Charcoal cost is a key factor in industries like barbecue catering, metallurgy, chemical processing, agriculture, soil improvement, and activated carbon production. Buyers and investors often ask: how much does one ton of charcoal cost?

Charcoal prices vary widely by type, origin, and application, so there is no single standard price. This article summarizes retail prices from Google searches, international B2B wholesale prices, and international trade prices, and also explains key influencing factors and purchasing advice to help readers better understand the real cost of charcoal.

charcoal briquette
charcoal briquette

1吨木炭多少钱?

Google search

Based on Google price summaries, the reference prices for different types of charcoal are as follows:

Charcoal TypeReference Price (USD/ton)Key Features
Eucalyptus / Wood Charcoal350–450General fuel, cost-effective
Sawdust Briquettes650–800Long burning, uniform size
Mangrove Charcoal450–550Stable heat output
Coffee Wood / Longan Charcoal500–650Light aroma, mild burning
Coconut Charcoal (Premium)1,200–1,400+Low ash, smokeless
Binchotan / White Charcoal1,200–1,500+Ultra premium, long burning

The table shows that charcoal prices are closely related to raw material type and quality. Common wood charcoal such as eucalyptus is the cheapest and suitable for general fuel use. Sawdust briquettes and mangrove charcoal are mid-priced and offer stable burning and even heat. Premium materials such as coconut shell charcoal and binchotan are the most expensive because they produce low ash, burn cleanly, and last longer. Overall, better raw materials mean better burning performance and higher prices.

International B2B Wholesale Price

Based on international trade wholesale prices (FOB), the prices of different types of charcoal are as follows:

Charcoal TypeWholesale Price (USD/ton)
Coconut Shell Charcoal1,200–1,400
Sawdust Charcoal650–800
Coffee Wood Charcoal500–600
Mangrove Charcoal450–550
Eucalyptus Charcoal350–450
Longan Charcoal500–650
Kaya Charcoal450–550

Overall, prices are directly related to raw material scarcity, carbonization process, and burning performance. Better raw materials and longer burning time result in higher prices, forming a clear tiered price structure.

charcoal cost
charcoal cost

International Trade Platform Wholesale Prices

Alibaba

Alibaba is a global B2B platform mainly used by Chinese exporters. The listed prices are mostly export prices from Chinese charcoal manufacturers. According to platform data, charcoal wholesale prices vary widely by type and specification.

类型Approx. FOB Price Range / tonNotes
Sawdust Charcoal450–850 USD/tonCommon for industrial use and barbecue
Hardwood Lump / Black Charcoal300–700 USD/tonWood charcoal, barbecue use
Specialty / Premium Charcoal766–2,299 USD/tonMay include activated or special grades
Low-price Bulk Samples200–300 USD/tonVery low prices, likely bulk or low grade

Alibaba listings include factory-direct supply and charcoal made from different raw materials for various applications. The price range is wide, so buyers should check individual supplier pages for accurate FOB prices and minimum order quantities.

Tradewheel

From supplier listings on the Tradewheel B2B marketplace, real-time FOB prices from different suppliers can be observed.

Product / Raw MaterialEstimated FOB Price / tonSource & Notes
Natural Hardwood Charcoal600–650 USD/tonShipped from Nigeria
BBQ Charcoal / Hardwood Charcoal90–100 USD/tonQuoted by German supplier
Coconut Shell Hookah Charcoal1,300–1,500 USD/tonShipped from Indonesia
Premium Hookah Charcoal1,865–1,965 USD/tonIndonesian block charcoal
Vietnam Charcoal400–800 USD/ton (example)Vietnam FOB price range
Low-price Activated / Special Charcoal100–150 USD/tonQuoted by some suppliers

Tradewheel prices show more detailed supplier quotations by charcoal type and country of origin.

Prices vary significantly depending on the application, such as hookah charcoal, regular charcoal, and activated charcoal.

charcoal briquette products
charcoal briquette products

B2BMAP

Data from other B2B marketplaces:

Bulk Charcoal ProductPrice / tonCountry of Origin
Basic Charcoal200 USD/tonAlbania supplier

Prices on platforms like B2BMAP can sometimes be very low. This may reflect low-grade products or large-volume transactions. In actual purchasing, buyers still need to confirm quality, specifications, and FOB port details with the supplier.

Summary of International Wholesale FOB Charcoal Cost Ranges

Based on data from multiple B2B platforms, a typical international wholesale FOB price range (USD/ton) can be summarized as follows:

  • Low-end/basic charcoal: 90–300 USD/ton, usually low density, lower quality, or bulk supply.
  • Mainstream industrial / BBQ charcoal: 300–850 USD/ton, the most common wholesale range.
  • Specialty / high-end charcoal: 800–1,500+ USD/ton, such as coconut shell hookah charcoal or activated charcoal.
  • Ultra-premium / customized charcoal: above 1,500 USD/ton, often niche or specialty products from specific countries.

What are the Main Factors Affecting Charcoal Prices?

Raw material type

Charcoal is made from different types of wood. The wood type directly affects cost and quality.

  • Softwood charcoal: low cost, fast burning, lower price.
  • Hardwood charcoal: high density, long burning time, high heat value, much higher price.

Production process and equipment

Traditional earth kiln charcoal: low cost, but unstable quality. Machine-made charcoal production lines: high carbon content, uniform size, low ash, higher price. In general, better equipment produces higher-quality charcoal at higher cost, which raises the final price.

Charcoal specifications and quality indicators

The following factors directly affect pricing:

  • Fixed carbon content
  • 灰分含量
  • 水分含量
  • Charcoal size (lump, granule, powder)
  • Smokeless and spark-free performance

Application differences

Different uses require different charcoal performance, leading to clear price gaps:

  • Household heating / general fuel: lower price.
  • BBQ and catering charcoal: higher stability required, mid to high price.
  • Industrial use in metallurgy and chemical processing: high fixed carbon required, higher price.

How to Get an Accurate Price for 1 Ton of Charcoal?

To obtain precise and actionable charcoal quotes, focus on the following:

  • Specify the type of charcoal (hardwood, machine-made, BBQ).
  • Provide the intended use and quality requirements.
  • Confirm the purchase quantity (bulk orders usually cost less).
  • Clarify delivery method and destination port.

For clients planning to enter charcoal production, also consider:

  • Cost of raw wood or biomass.
  • Investment in charcoal production equipment.
  • Energy and labor costs.
  • Environmental and emission requirements.

These factors together determine the true production cost and profit margin of charcoal

Conclusion

Overall, the price of 1 ton of charcoal usually ranges from 300 to 2,500 USD, with differences mainly due to raw materials, production process, and intended use. When purchasing or investing, avoid focusing on a single price—compare quality, consistency, and long-term costs.

If you are evaluating a charcoal production project or estimating charcoal cost structure for a target market, it is recommended to combine real-time quotes with production line configuration for a systematic calculation. This approach enables more informed and rational decisions.

How to Enter the Charcoal Production Industry?

For clients looking to enter charcoal production, a good carbonization furnace is essential. Common types include vertical furnaces, horizontal furnaces, and continuous carbonization furnaces. Prices vary depending on size and features.

If you are unsure which furnace best suits your production needs, you can contact me for consultation.