- Total allocations more than double on 7 April auction
- G4 volumes and prices increase on strong buyer interest
Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) conducted its non-coking coal e-auction on 7 April 2026, recording a sharp rise in allocations to 111,700 t compared with 52,750 t on 30 March, indicating significantly improved participation.
Grade-wise comparison
G4 coal dominated the auction with a massive jump in allocations and improved pricing, indicating strong demand for mid-grade coal. G5 also saw higher participation and price increase, while G3 and G9 saw no allocation in the latest auction.
Mine-wise performance highlights
On 30 March, key contributions came from Khottadih OC (8,050 t), Nakrakonda OC (6,550 t), Jambad UG (7,000 t – G3), and Hura C OC (9,100 t), indicating a mix of mid- and high-grade participation. Premium realisations were observed at select mines such as Kalidaspur UG (INR 6,029/t).
In the 7 April auction, Sonepur Bazari OC emerged as the dominant supplier with 50,000 t at INR 6,019/t, significantly higher than previous auction contributions. Other key mines included Chitra OC (10,000 t), Bhanora OC (7,000 t), and New Kenda OC (6,000 t), indicating strong concentration of volumes in large opencast mines.
Buyer-wise comparison (top participants)
The latest auction saw emergence of large bulk buyers such as Shakambhari Ispat, while participation broadened across sponge iron players. Earlier auctions had more distributed buying across multiple smaller participants.
There has been a strong rebound in auction participation, with volumes more than doubling and prices improving. Demand was heavily concentrated in G4 coal, supported by sponge iron sector requirements. The shift from diversified buying in the previous auction to bulk procurement in the latest auction highlights improving buyer confidence. However, absence of higher grades like G3 suggests continued selectivity in procurement.
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