Monthly Coal Imports to India fall by 8.2%

Total monthly coal import to India had touched 20 MnT in the beginning of the year with a downfall of about 8% against Dec’14.

India, which is one of the prime players in dry fuel imports across the globe, had imported 20 MnT coal in Jan’15. Country’s total import has been declined since last two successive months, which indicates that import figure is to reach at previous level from its peak in Nov’14.

As per SteelMint’s data analysis, out of the total coal imports, the country had imported 15.3 MnT Non-coking (down by 13%), 4.5 Coking and about 0.5 MnT Coke & Anthracite. Apart from that about 0.59 MnT was Pet Coke majorly supplied by USA & China.

The uncertainty over the global export market (continuous declining prices) and major domestic issues coupled with rising demand have pushed the country to increase imports. Surge in import was somehow concurring with coal block cancellation issue, at the time when the country is to open new power projects with boosted demand.

Top Exporting Countries

Indonesia, Australia & South Africa were the major coal suppliers in the end of month. Indonesia remains the top exporter of Non-coking and supplied about 10.9 MnT; fallen by 15.5% against Dec’14. Australia and South Africa had supplied about 4.5 MnT and 2.8 MnT coal respectively. In January, India had imported about 0.27 MnT Met coke from China.

Major Discharging Ports

About 70% of coal has been imported at key ports of the country. Among the major Indian ports, Mundra imported maximum quantity of about 3.3 MnT, followed by Krishnapatnam & Paradip Ports with imported quantity of 1.8 MnT & 1.6 MnT respectively.

It is also anticipated that government’s immediate focus on power sector for coal block auction may increase dependency on imported fuel for few sectors such as  steel, cement and CPP’s, those are integrated in single group for auction.