Indian Coal Import Slip by 8% in Sep’16

India’s total monthly coal imports again witnessed a downfall of 8% at 16.2 MnT in Sep’16 and hit the lowest of the fiscal since Apr’16. Besides, monthly import recorded a marginal rise of 2% Y-o-Y.

India, the 2nd largest dry fuel importer across the globe, has mark the lowest coal imports of the year in Sep’16. The imports had attained with a downfall of 8% in Sep’16 compared with last month. Strong global coal prices and monsoon affect resulted into slow trade in India since couple of months.

In Sep’16, the country has imported about 16.2 MnT coal (pet coke included) with a notable fall of 1.5 MnT compared to Aug’16. In addition, total yearly coal imports rise marginally by 2% from 15.9 MnT in Sep’15.

As per SteelMint’s data analysis, out of the total imports, the country imported 10.4 MnT non-coking coal, 3.8 MnT coking coal and about 0.4 MnT coke & anthracite in Sep’16. While, 1.6 MnT Pet coke (down by 17%) imported was majorly supplied by USA and Saudi Arabia.

Source: SteelMint
Quantity in MnT

The consecutive fall in India’s coal imports since couple of months was a result of falling demand of coal during monsoon. It has been noted that, sharp growth in international coal market which have hit 2-3 years high in Oct’16, have limited buyers to opt imported material.

Major exporting countries to India in Sep’16
Indonesia, the biggest conventional source of the country, supplied about 7 MnT of coal, registered a downfall of 12% against Aug’16. Moreover, India purchases most of its coal from countries such as Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, USA, China and Saudi Arabia.

Major discharging ports and importers in Sep’16
Mundra, India’s biggest Port in dry fuel handling, received the highest volume of 2.5 MnT with a downfall of 17% in Sep’16. Other ports of the country namely Paradip, Krishnapatnam and Kandla received 1.2 MnT, 1.1 MnT and 1 MnT coal respectively.

Source: SteelMint
Quantity in MnT

Indian companies like Adani Power, JSW Steel, CGPL, Adani Enterprises, SAIL, Tata Steel and Essar Power imported large quantities of about 1.6 MnT, 1.3 MnT, 1.3 MnT, 1 MnT, 0.9 MnT, 0.7 MnT and 0.4 MnT respectively in Sep’16.