Indian Coal Import Rises by 8.7% M-o-M

In the first two months of FY16, India’s coal import reached at 40.7 MnT with a significant rise of 3.7 MnT compared to same months FY15. The import registered a growth of 9.7% compared to the last fiscal.

India, one of the prime players in dry fuel imports has imported 21.2 MnT of coal in May’15, which shows 8.7% growth compared to Apr’15. As per SteelMint’s data analysis, out of the total monthly import, the country imported about 16.7 MnT non-coking coal (up by 6.3%), 4.2 MnT coking (up by 27.2%) and about 0.19 MnT coke & anthracite in May’15.

India’s coal imports have increased sharply owing to rise in demand of the country since last few weeks. Manufacturers and traders have been very active in imports as they stock coal before upcoming monsoon in India. On the other hand, bearish outlook of the global market in which coal prices have reached to its bottom level, also, attracts manufacturers to purchase more coal from international market.

Indian coal import has been increasing constantly over the last five years on the ground of country’s rising demand coupled with lack in domestic supply. With the beginning of this fiscal India’s coal import boosted by 9.7% and stood at 40.7 MnT in the first two months of FY16 which was about 37.1 MnT in FY15.

Major Coal Supplier countries 

Major Discharging Ports & Importers in May’15

About 70% of coal was imported at key ports of the country. Among the major Indian ports, Mundra imported maximum quantity of about 2.7 MnT, followed by Krishnapatnam with 1.9 MnT and Kandla at 1.7 MnT.

Companies like Adani Enterprises, JSW Steel & Coastal Guajrat Power imported large quantities and play the most decisive role in Coal imports; these imported about 2.2 MnT, 1.4 MnT & 1.1 MnT respectively in May’15.

Major Coal Importers

Quantity in MnT
Source: SteelMint