According to the data provided by Indian Port Association (IPA), coal imports at the country’s 12 major ports have increased 8% on the month to 15.19 MnT in Jan’18 against 14.103 MnT in Dec’17.
The 12 major ports of India listed under IPA include: Kolkata (Kolkata and Haldia dock both combined), Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Kamajar (Ennore), Chennai, V O Chidambaranar, Cochin, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Mumbai, J.N.P.T and Kandla.
Imports of thermal and steam grades of coal at the major ports had continued to grow on the monthly basis; imports had increased 12% M-o-M to 10.306 MnT in Jan’18.
While, imports of Coking and other grades of coal had fell 0.5% M-o-M to 4.884 MnT in Jan’18 compared with 4.907 MnT in Dec’17.
Among the individual ports, Paradip remained the highest coal receiver in Jan’18, although coal shipments of 4.41 MnT were slightly lower on the month compared with 4.446 MnT in Dec’17.
Ennore port was the second-largest coal receiver during the month, the port had handled 2.309 MnT coal in Jan’18, which was 6% lower than the previous month’s total of 2.451 MnT. The coal imports into the port had only contained thermal and steam coal as no Coking coal shipments were recorded in FY18.
| Port | Thermal & Steam Coal | Coking Coal and Others | ||||
| Jan’18 | Dec’17 | % Change | Jan’18 | Dec’17 | % Change | |
| Paradip | 3.186 | 3.169 | 1% | 1.224 | 1.277 | -4% |
| Kamarajar (Ennore) | 2.309 | 2.451 | -6% | 0 | 0 | – |
| Kolkata | 0.299 | 0.247 | 21% | 1.622 | 1.304 | 24% |
| Kandla | 1.739 | 1.19 | 46% | 0.102 | 0.048 | 113% |
| Visakhapatnam | 0.985 | 0.759 | 30% | 0.582 | 0.752 | -23% |
| V.O. Chidambaranar | 0.902 | 0.898 | 0% | 0.304 | 0.417 | -27% |
| Mormugao | 0.303 | 0.085 | 256% | 0.75 | 0.826 | -9% |
| New Mangalore | 0.406 | 0.323 | 26% | 0.294 | 0.068 | 332% |
| Mumbai | 0.177 | 0.074 | 139% | 0.006 | 0.215 | -97% |
| Chennai | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – |
| Cochin | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – |
| JNPT | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – |
| Total | 10.306 | 9.196 | 12% | 4.884 | 4.907 | -0.5% |
Source: IPA
Quantity in MnT
Total Coal Shipments in FY18:
Total coal shipments handled at the major ports had posted increase on the year-on-year basis for the first time during FY18.
Coal imports of 119.616 MnT recorded during Apr’17-Jan’18 had surpassed the previous year’s total of 117.865 MnT, majorly due to the rise in Coking coal shipments.
Coking & other coal grades’ import had rose 8% Y-o-Y to 42.631 MnT during Apr’17-Jan’18, compared with 39.461 MnT in Apr’16-Jan’17.
On the other hand, despite recording growth in recent months, thermal & Steam coal imports at the ports were still short of the previous year’s total of 78.403 MnT recorded during Apr’16-Jan’17. Coal imports had dropped 2% Y-o-Y to 76.985 MnT during Apr’17-Jan’18.
Paradip had handled the highest coal quantity of 34 MnT during Apr’17-Jan’18, followed by Ennore, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and Kandla ports.
Only 4 ports namely-Paradip, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam and Mormugao had registered noticeable growth in coal handling during the period. JNPT and Chennai ports have not received a single coal shipment during FY18.

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