CoalMint’s vessel-line-up data (as on 18 Aug’21) reveals that a total volume of 3.13 million tonnes (mn t) of thermal coal is set to arrive at various Indian ports between 18 Aug’21-9 Sep’21.
Out of this, only 0.46 mn t is coming from Australia during the said period which, a few months back, used to be around 1 mn t on an average in a 20–day period.
Key reasons for limited arrival of Australian thermal coal to India:
- A sharp rise of 73% in Australian thermal coal prices against Jan’21 prices.
- Change in preference of Indian cement manufacturers who are the key users of Australian coal, as they switched to domestic or US thermal coal.
- Escalated freight rates between India and Australia especially for Panamax vessels.
About 95% of Australian coal, i.e, 0.22 mn t, is being brought in by Adani Enterprise at Dahej, Gangavaram, and Mundra ports followed by 0.17 mn t by Coastal Gujarat Power at Mundra Port.
Indonesia, on the other hand, continues to remain the top coal exporter to India despite surging coal prices since the past few months.
About 1.30 mn t of Indonesian coal is set to arrive at various ports in the country with Adani Enterprise and Agarwal Coal being the top buyers. This is followed by 0.61 mn t of South African coal with Adani Enterprise and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India being the top two importers of it.
With the monsoon season nearing its end, imported coal demand from end-users have also picked up. Textile, chemical, and ceramics sectors have resumed procuring Indonesian coal in small quantities even at higher prices.
| Country | Quantity in mn t |
| Indonesia | 1.30 |
| South Africa | 0.61 |
| Australia | 0.46 |
| The US | 0.25 |
Lowest number of vessels arriving at southern ports
Thermal coal vessel arrival at southern ports remains the lowest as Ennore Port is set to receive 0.10 mn t of thermal coal from Australia and Indonesia, while Tuticorin will receive 0.11 mn t of Indonesian coal till 9 Sept’21.
No major vessel arrival is scheduled at Krishnapatnam and Mangalore ports during the said period, as per CoalMint data.
Lower number of vessel arrivals and rapidly depleting coal stocks at southern ports have lifted imported portside coal prices in the last two weeks.
In the western belt, Kandla Port is set to receive the highest quantity of thermal coal, at 0.49 mn t, with the maximum quantity of 0.23 mn t coming from Indonesia, and 0.25 mn t from the US. Mundra Port is the second-highest receiver with 0.23 mn t coming from Australia, and 0.17 mn t from Indonesia.
Adani Enteprise tops the list of importers
Adani Enterprise has booked 0.56 mn t of thermal coal, of which the highest volume is set to arrive at Hazira Port (0.18 mn t), followed by Dhamra (0.16 mn t), Gangavaram (0.09 mn t), Dahej (0.08 mn t), and Mundra Port (0.06 mn t).
Agarwal Coal is the second highest receiver of thermal coal with 0.27 mn t of Indonesian coal, with the highest volume of 0.10 mn t coming at Kandla Port , followed by Dharamtar Port with 0.09 mn t, and Tuticorin Port with 0.08 mn t.
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