US Short Tons to Metric Tons Converter: Export Price Decoder for Converting US Commodity Prices from Short Tons to Metric Tons for International Buyers
Three modes: convert US short tons to metric tons (1 short ton = 0.90718474 metric tons = 907.18474 kg), use the US Export Price Decoder (enter short tons + $/short ton domestic price to get metric tons + $/MT international invoice price), or batch-convert up to 20 values. 16 presets from 0.5 short tons to 110,231 short tons (100,000 MT capesize). Free PDF. WhatsApp share.
US Short Tons to Metric Tons
Conversion Result
Formula and Export Context
Why US Commodity Exporters Must Convert Their Short-Ton Prices to Metric Tons for Every International Sale
When a US coal producer, steel mill, grain elevator, or fertilizer distributor sells to a buyer outside the United States, the first pricing problem is always the same: the US seller has a price in $/short ton from their domestic benchmarks, and the international buyer expects a price in $/metric ton per standard Incoterms contracts and international Bill of Lading conventions. The conversion formula is: $/metric ton = $/short ton x 0.90718474. Because the US short ton (907.18 kg) is lighter than the metric ton (1,000 kg), the metric ton price is always numerically lower than the short ton price for the same commodity. A domestic coal price of $75/short ton = $75 x 0.90718474 = $68.04/metric ton for the international invoice.
This direction — short tons to metric tons — is the daily workflow for US exporters. The other direction (metric tons to short tons, covered by our Metric Tons to US Short Tons Converter) is used by US importers checking foreign invoices. For US exporters, the conversion also matters at the shipment planning stage: a US Gulf grain terminal loading a panamax vessel with a 50,000-metric-ton charter needs to know that 50,000 MT = 50,000 / 0.90718474 = 55,115.6 short tons of corn to originate from elevators priced in short tons. Under-purchasing by 5,115.6 short tons (the 10.231% unit gap) means the vessel is short-loaded, and the exporter is liable for dead freight charges under the charter party.
How the Three-Mode US Short Tons to Metric Tons Converter Works
Mode 1: Single Short Ton to Metric Ton
Enter any short ton value or select from 16 presets. Output: metric tons (8 decimal places), kg, lbs, oz, and an export context describing typical commercial uses for that weight range (containers, handysize vessel, panamax, kamsarmax, capesize). Price formula is shown in the result context: $/short ton x 0.90718474 = $/MT.
Mode 2: US Export Price Decoder
Enter the shipment quantity in short tons, optionally your domestic $/short ton price, and optionally the international buyer’s $/MT offer. Output: metric ton equivalent, kg, lbs, and if prices are entered: the $/MT equivalent of your domestic price, the total contract value at each price, and the total value difference — showing whether the buyer’s MT offer is favorable or unfavorable relative to your short-ton cost.
Mode 3: Batch Conversion
Enter up to 20 short ton values. Table shows metric tons, kg, lbs. Useful for converting a multi-line US domestic purchase order to metric tons for international shipping documentation, or converting a vessel cargo plan from short tons to MT for a charter party.
US Export Commodity Benchmarks in Short Tons and Their International Metric Ton Equivalents
Coal: Converting EIA Short-Ton Price to International API Price in Metric Tons
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes weekly coal spot prices in $/short ton. Typical Central Appalachian (CAPP) coal runs $70-$120/short ton depending on the market cycle. To quote this price to a European utility buyer who uses API 2 pricing in $/metric ton: multiply the $/short ton price by 0.90718474. At $85/short ton: $85 x 0.90718474 = $77.11/MT. This becomes the FOB Hampton Roads price in metric tons for the export contract. The EIA coal price series are at EIA.gov/coal. The EIA also publishes a unit conversion guide at EIA.gov/units. NIST defines the exact pound-to-kg conversion at NIST.gov.
Steel: US HRC Short-Ton Price to International Metric Ton for Asian and European Buyers
US steel service centers and mills price flat-rolled and long products in short tons, with price indices published by CRU, Steel Market Update, and Platts in $/short ton. To export to a Southeast Asian or European buyer, the price must be converted to $/metric ton: $/short ton x 0.90718474 = $/MT. At $700/short ton HRC: $700 x 0.90718474 = $635.03/MT FOB US mill. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) tracks US steel shipments in short tons at steel.org. The USGS iron and steel industry statistics at USGS.gov cover imports and exports in metric tons.
Grain: From CBOT Cents per Bushel to $/Short Ton to $/Metric Ton for Export Invoice
US grain pricing starts at CBOT/CME futures in cents per bushel. To convert to $/metric ton for an international buyer: first convert $/bushel to $/short ton by multiplying by the number of bushels per short ton (corn: 2,000 lbs / 56 lbs per bushel = 35.71 bu/st; wheat: 2,000/60 = 33.33 bu/st; soybeans: 2,000/60 = 33.33 bu/st). Then convert $/short ton to $/MT. Example: CBOT corn at 480 cents/bushel = $4.80/bushel x 35.71 bu/short ton = $171.41/short ton. Then $171.41/short ton x 0.90718474 = $155.52/metric ton FOB Gulf for the Korean buyer’s invoice. USDA NASS domestic grain prices at NASS.USDA.gov. USDA FAS export prices and volumes at FAS.USDA.gov. CME Group corn specifications at CMEGroup.com.
| US Commodity | Domestic Unit | $/ST Example | $/MT Equivalent | Conversion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal (thermal) | $/short ton (EIA) | $85.00/st | $77.11/MT | $85.00 x 0.90718474 |
| Coal (met) | $/short ton (EIA) | $180.00/st | $163.29/MT | $180.00 x 0.90718474 |
| Steel HRC | $/short ton (AISI/CRU) | $700.00/st | $635.03/MT | $700.00 x 0.90718474 |
| Corn (FOB Gulf) | $/short ton (USDA) | $171.41/st | $155.52/MT | $171.41 x 0.90718474 |
| Soybeans (FOB Gulf) | $/short ton (USDA) | $368.75/st | $334.77/MT | $368.75 x 0.90718474 |
| Fertilizer urea | $/short ton (USDA ERS) | $310.00/st | $281.23/MT | $310.00 x 0.90718474 |
| Scrap metal | $/short ton (ISRI) | $350.00/st | $317.51/MT | $350.00 x 0.90718474 |
Formula: $/metric ton = $/short ton x 0.90718474. Or equivalently: $/MT = $/short ton / 1.10231131. The $/MT price is always numerically lower because 1 metric ton (1,000 kg) is heavier than 1 short ton (907.18 kg). On the same physical quantity, total revenue is identical. Sources: EIA.gov (coal), steel.org (AISI), FAS.USDA.gov (grain), ERS.USDA.gov (fertilizer), ISRI.org (scrap).
Three Real US Examples: West Virginia Coal Export, US Steel Mill Korean Sale, and Mississippi River Grain Elevator Panamax Loading
Example 1: A West Virginia Coal Producer Converting Domestic Pricing to a European Utility Invoice
Export Decoder: 80,000 short tons (WV coal quarterly contract) at $88/short ton = $7,040,000 total = 72,575 MT at $88 x 0.90718 = $79.83/MT. European buyer offers $80/MT. Gap: $80 – $79.83 = $0.17/MT favorable. Total: $80 x 72,575 = $5,806,000 — wait, same quantity: 72,575 MT x $80/MT = $5,806,000 vs 80,000 st x $88/st = $7,040,000. The $/MT calculation gives a lower total ONLY if the buyer is buying fewer metric tons than the 80,000 short tons contain.
A West Virginia surface mine operator has a domestic contract at $88/short ton for Central Appalachian thermal coal. A German utility contacts him with an inquiry for 72,000 metric tons at $80/MT FOB Hampton Roads. He needs to know: how many short tons does he need to ship, and is $80/MT a fair price relative to his $88/short ton cost?
Export Decoder: Step 1 — convert buyer’s order from MT to short tons: 72,000 MT / 0.90718474 = 79,366.5 short tons needed. Step 2 — convert his domestic cost to $/MT: $88/short ton x 0.90718474 = $79.83/MT. Step 3 — compare: buyer offers $80/MT vs his cost equivalent of $79.83/MT. The buyer’s offer is $80 – $79.83 = $0.17/MT above his cost equivalent. Total at buyer price: 72,000 MT x $80 = $5,760,000. Total at domestic equivalent: 79,366.5 short tons x $88 = $6,984,252. These represent different quantities (72,000 MT = 79,366.5 short tons vs 80,000 short tons). The offer is marginally favorable — $0.17/MT above cost — before shipping, handling, and FOB costs. EIA coal price data at EIA.gov. US coal export data by terminal at EIA.gov/coal/distribution.
Example 2: A Pittsburgh Steel Mill Preparing a Korean Export Invoice
Export Decoder: 3,000 short tons HRC at $720/short ton domestic = 2,721.55 metric tons at $720 x 0.90718474 = $653.17/MT for the export invoice. Korean buyer offer: $650/MT. Gap: $653.17 – $650.00 = $3.17/MT unfavorable. Total shortfall: $3.17 x 2,721.55 MT = $8,627.
A Pittsburgh flat-rolled steel mill prices HRC at $720/short ton domestically, matching current Steel Market Update benchmarks. A Korean distributor offers $650/metric ton CIF Busan (cost, insurance, freight to Korea). The mill needs to know if $650/MT covers the cost after converting from short tons, before adding $45/MT for ocean freight and insurance.
Export Decoder: Convert domestic price to $/MT: $720/short ton x 0.90718474 = $653.17/MT. The buyer offers $650/MT, which is $3.17/MT below the short-ton cost equivalent (even before $45/MT freight, making the total landed cost to the buyer $650/MT but the mill’s net-back only $650 – $45 = $605/MT). Compare to domestic equivalent: $605/MT / 0.90718474 = $667.00/short ton net-back to the mill. At $720/st domestic cost, the mill loses $720 – $667 = $53/short ton on this export vs domestic sale. The Korean offer needs to be at least $653.17/MT to cover the short-ton cost equivalent, plus the $45/MT freight add-on. AISI US steel data at steel.org.
Example 3: A Memphis Grain Elevator Originating Corn for a 50,000-MT Panamax Charter
Export Decoder: 50,000 MT panamax corn charter = 50,000 / 0.90718474 = 55,115.6 short tons to originate. At $171.41/short ton (corn at $4.80/bushel x 35.71 bu/st): total origination cost = 55,115.6 x $171.41 = $9,443,504. Charter price: 50,000 MT x $155.52/MT = $7,776,000. Add freight ($14/MT) = $0.70M. Net = $7,076,000. Loss? No — these should balance if the elevator’s margin is built into the $/MT sell price.
A Memphis grain elevator has been asked to originate corn for a 50,000-metric-ton panamax vessel loading at the Port of New Orleans. Corn is priced at CBOT December futures of 480 cents/bushel. The elevator needs to know how many short tons to buy from local farmers and what the $/MT export price should be to cover costs.
Export Decoder: MT to short tons: 50,000 MT / 0.90718474 = 55,115.6 short tons to originate. Convert CBOT to $/short ton: $4.80/bushel x 35.71 bu/short ton = $171.41/short ton corn cost at elevator. Total origination: 55,115.6 short tons x $171.41 = $9,443,504 (plus handling, freight, elevator margin). Convert to $/MT for export bid: $171.41/short ton x 0.90718474 = $155.52/MT. Add elevator margin ($12/MT) + river freight to NOLA ($9/MT) + ocean freight ($15/MT) = total costs $191.52/MT. Export bid should be above $191.52/MT to be profitable. USDA NASS corn prices at NASS.USDA.gov. USDA FAS grain export data at FAS.USDA.gov. CME corn futures at CMEGroup.com.
Expert Tips: Incoterms Metric Ton Requirement, Charter Party Dead Freight Math, USDA Export Reports, and Multi-Commodity Comparison
Tip 1: Why Incoterms Contracts and Letters of Credit Require Metric Tons
International commercial contracts governed by Incoterms 2020 (ICC, Paris) use metric tons (or kilograms) as the standard weight unit. When a US exporter signs a CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight), FOB (Free on Board), or CFR (Cost and Freight) contract, the quantity is almost always expressed in metric tons. A US Letter of Credit (LC) issued by a foreign bank for an agricultural or mineral commodity will specify metric tons. If the US exporter ships 55,115.6 short tons but the LC says “50,000 metric tons,” the Bill of Lading must show 50,000 metric tons (= 55,115.6 short tons) for the LC to be honored. Under-converting short tons to metric tons means under-documenting the shipment, which can lead to LC discrepancies, delayed payment, and bank charges. ICC Incoterms guidance at iccwbo.org. USDA export LC requirements at FAS.USDA.gov.
Tip 2: Dead Freight Calculation When Short-Ton and Metric-Ton Quantities Diverge
A charter party (ocean vessel freight contract) specifies cargo quantity in metric tons with a MOLCHOPT (more or less at charterer’s option) clause, typically 5% or 10%. If a US grain exporter originates too few short tons due to a unit conversion error, the vessel cannot load to its contracted MT quantity, and the exporter owes dead freight: typically the freight rate x (contracted MT – actual MT loaded). At $14/MT freight on a panamax: dead freight for 1,000 MT short = $14 x 1,000 = $14,000. The classic error: a US elevator originates 50,000 short tons (thinking that equals 50,000 metric tons) but actually 50,000 short tons = 50,000 x 0.90718474 = 45,359 metric tons — 4,641 MT short of a 50,000 MT charter. Dead freight: $14/MT x 4,641 MT = $64,974. The correct origination for a 50,000 MT charter is 55,115.6 short tons. The Baltic Exchange dry bulk freight rates (including panamax rates) are at balticexchange.com.
Tip 3: How USDA Reports US Agricultural Exports in Both Short Tons and Metric Tons
USDA reports use both units depending on the publication. USDA NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) publishes domestic crop production in bushels and sometimes short tons for domestic reference. USDA FAS (Foreign Agricultural Service) publishes US export volumes in metric tons (to align with international trade statistics). The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report uses metric tons for international supply/demand tables. A US farmer or elevator reading both reports must convert: NASS corn production at 15 billion bushels = 15,000,000,000 / 35.71 bu/st = 420.3 million short tons = 420.3 x 0.90718474 = 381.3 million metric tons. The FAS WASDE would show approximately 381-382 million metric tons for the same crop. USDA WASDE at USDA.gov/wasde. NASS statistics at NASS.USDA.gov. FAS export data at FAS.USDA.gov.
Tip 4: Comparing Multiple Commodities Priced in Mixed Units on the Same Vessel
Some bulk vessel charters combine multiple US commodities, each priced in different domestic units. A common scenario: a vessel carries wheat (priced in $/bushel), soybeans ($/bushel), and corn ($/bushel) from the US Gulf to Japan. Each must be converted to $/metric ton for the Japanese buyer’s invoice. The per-bushel to per-metric-ton conversion: wheat: 60 lbs/bu, 2,204.62 lbs/MT, so 2,204.62/60 = 36.74 bu/MT. At $5.50/bu: $5.50 x 36.74 = $201.57/MT. Soybeans: 60 lbs/bu, 36.74 bu/MT. At $12.00/bu: $12.00 x 36.74 = $440.88/MT. Corn: 56 lbs/bu, 2,204.62/56 = 39.37 bu/MT. At $4.80/bu: $4.80 x 39.37 = $189.00/MT. The total vessel value per metric ton allows comparison between commodities and between domestic and export margins. CME group specifications at CMEGroup.com. USDA export grain prices at FAS.USDA.gov/psdonline.
Quick Reference: Common US Short Ton Values Converted to Metric Tons
| Short Tons | Metric Tons | Kg | Lbs | $/st to $/MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 st | 0.9072 MT | 907.18 kg | 2,000 lbs | $75/st = $68.04/MT |
| 1.10231 st | 1.0000 MT | 1,000.00 kg | 2,204.6 lbs | Exactly 1 metric ton |
| 10.0 st | 9.0718 MT | 9,071.85 kg | 20,000 lbs | $85/st = $77.11/MT |
| 40.0 st | 36.287 MT | 36,287.39 kg | 80,000 lbs | US federal max gross weight |
| 100.0 st | 90.718 MT | 90,718.47 kg | 200,000 lbs | $700/st = $635.03/MT |
| 1,000.0 st | 907.18 MT | 907,184.74 kg | 2,000,000 lbs | $100/st = $90.72/MT |
| 5,000.0 st | 4,535.92 MT | 4,535,923.7 kg | 10,000,000 lbs | Small vessel lot |
| 27,558 st | 25,000 MT | 25,000,000 kg | 55,115,660 lbs | Handysize vessel capacity |
| 55,116 st | 50,000 MT | 50,000,000 kg | 110,231,320 lbs | Panamax vessel full load |
| 110,231 st | 100,000 MT | 100,000,000 kg | 220,462,640 lbs | Capesize vessel capacity |
Formula: metric tons = short tons x 0.90718474 (exact). Price: $/short ton x 0.90718474 = $/MT for international invoice. Reverse: short tons = metric tons x 1.10231131. Source: NIST.gov (1959 International Pound: 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg). SI definition: 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg exactly.
Frequently Asked Questions: US Short Tons to Metric Tons
Related Weight Converters
Legal Disclaimer and Editorial Transparency
The US Short Tons to Metric Tons Converter on USCalculators.com is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The conversion 1 US short ton = 0.90718474 metric tons is derived from: 1 US short ton = 2,000 lbs (exact, US customary definition) and 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg (exact, 1959 International Pound Agreement per NIST.gov), giving 1 short ton = 907.18474 kg / 1,000 kg per metric ton = 0.90718474 metric tons. Price conversion formulas ($/short ton x 0.90718474 = $/metric ton) use this exact factor; actual commodity prices are market-determined and variable. Commodity price data referenced: EIA coal prices (EIA.gov/coal), AISI steel data (steel.org), USDA NASS and FAS grain data (nass.usda.gov, fas.usda.gov), USDA ERS fertilizer data (ers.usda.gov), ISRI scrap prices (isri.org), Baltic Exchange freight rates (balticexchange.com), CME Group futures specifications (cmegroup.com). All commodity prices cited are illustrative ranges for educational purposes; actual market prices vary. Dead freight and charter party calculations are illustrative; actual charter terms are negotiated and vary by party, route, and cargo. US federal truck weight limits from 23 CFR 658.17 at highways.dot.gov. ISO container weights from ISO 668:2020. Incoterms guidance from ICC at iccwbo.org. USDA export guarantee programs at fas.usda.gov. US Customs and Border Protection guidance at cbp.gov. HTS at hts.usitc.gov. This calculator does not provide commodity trading, financial, legal, or trade compliance advice. Consult a licensed commodity broker, freight forwarder, customs broker, or trade attorney for actual commercial and compliance decisions.