Coal rakes supplied by Indian railways have fallen sharply during the third quarter of CY19, with the month of September witnessing the lowest count for the year.
Data compiled by CoalMint Research indicates that the railways had transported 29,433 coal rakes in total during Q3 CY19 (Jul-Sep’19), which was 20% lower on the quarter from 36,941 in Q2 CY19. On the monthly basis, the rakes count continued the downtrend seen since May’19, to notch its lowest mark for the year of 9,246 marked during Sep’19.
It is pertaining to note that coal demand in India peaks during the summer season where most of the power stations remain in desperate need of the fuel to run their operations. The coal requirement thereafter slows down only to be supported by the pre-monsoon stocking.
Meanwhile, extended rains and a subdued coal supplied by the major mine CIL has further slowed down demand from power sector which is the chief consumer of coal in India.
During Q3 CY19, the power sector had received 21,923 coal rakes in total at an average of 238.29 rakes per day. The rakes count decreased 21% Q-o-Q from 27,798 noted in Q2 CY19, wherein average supplies were marked 305.47 rakes per day in the period.
Major Coal Receivers:
A break up of coal supplied to the individual sectors indicate that rakes procured by State electricity board were marked highest in the third quarter period. State utilities had received 9,433 rakes during Q3 CY19, which had fell 24% Q-o-Q from 12,348 in Q2 CY19.
Non-power sector including steel, cement and related industries excluding the merchant power producers were the second highest recipients of coal rakes in the period, followed by Private sector power plants and central run power plants.
Although in terms of individual recipients, government run-NTPC power plants had taken the highest coal rakes in the quarter period. NTPC’s rake procurement stood 3,959 in Q3 CY19, down 24% Q-o-Q from 5,234 in Q2 CY19.
Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) received the second highest coal rakes allotted by the railways followed by SAIL in Q3 CY19.
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