India: Coal Traffic Handled at Major Ports Up 19% Y-o-Y in H1 FY19

According to the data provided by Indian Port Association (IPA), coal imports at the country’s 12 major ports has grew 19% Y-o-Y to 77.911 MnT during first half period of FY19 (Apr’18-Sep’18) against 65.739 MnT recorded in Apr’17-Sep’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 Deendayal port (formerly known as Kandla).

Imports of thermal and steam grades of coal at the major ports have increased to 51.452 MnT in Apr’18-Sep’18, up 24% Y-o-Y from 41.473 MnT in Apr’17-Sep’17.

Remaining shipments comprised of Coking and other coal which has totaled 26.459 MnT during the 6-month period, rising 9% Y-o-Y from 24.266 MnT recorded in the same period last year.

Among the individual ports, Paradip remained the highest coal receiver in FY19; the port has received 22.391 MnT coal in Apr’18-Sep’18, up 23% Y-o-Y from 18.205 MnT in Apr’17-Sep’17.

Ennore, Kolkata, Deendayal and Visakhapatnam ports were the other major coal receivers.

It is to be noted that only Mumbai and Mormugao ports had seen a Y-o-Y fall in imports during the 6-month period, while JNPT and Chennai port had not received any imported coal shipment in FY19.

Monthly Arrival at Ports:
Despite the remarkable growth in total imports on the y-o-y basis, monthly arrivals of coal shipments at the major ports have remain depressed.

Imports have fallen to its lowest level since the beginning of FY19, dropping 10% M-o-M to 11.281 MnT in Sep’18. The fall in imports could be attributed to the preference of private sectors ports of the like of Mundra and Krishnapatnam, among the major traders in India.

Grade-wise Imports: Import of thermal and steam coal was down 8% M-o-M to 7.145 MnT, while Coking and other coal imports had decreased 12% over the month to 4.136 MnT in Sep’18.

Paradip port had received the highest coal shipments, but had seen imports falling on the month in Sep’18.

In fact, only 3 ports namely-V.O. Chidambaranar, Deendayal and Mumbai had witness a noticeable growth in total coal imports on the monthly basis. Cochin, JNPT and Chennai port had not received any imported coal shipment in Sep’18.

Source: IPA
Quantity in MnT