Domestic production of petroleum coke in Oct’18 has been 1.26 MMT (million metric ton), against 1.21 MMT same month last year, registering a growth of 4.1%.
On cumulative basis, production during Apr’18-Oct’19 has been 8.39 MMT against 7.97 MMT during the same period of the last fiscal year, registering a growth of 5.3%.
The growth in pet coke production is mainly due to residue upgradation through Delayed Coker Unit (DCU) at various refineries targeting the higher production of middle distillates.
The overall domestic pet coke consumption has decreased by 10.3% Y-o-Y to 2.0 MMT in Oct’18, against 2.23 MMT in Oct’17.
On cumulative basis, consumption in in Apr-Oct’18 has been 12.74 MMT against 15.94 MMT last fiscal same period, registering a decline of 20.1%.
Indian pet coke production and consumption figures are represented graphically as below:
Source: CoalMint Research
In India, the subdued consumption of pet coke is due to restrictions and uncertainties prevailing on imports, caused by various orders by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and subsequent notifications by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Therefore, major cement companies had earlier been shifting to high calorific-value US coal in place of imported pet coke.
Nevertheless, after having received clarity on pet coke import for selected industries like cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide and gasification, the import of pet coke is gradually increasing mainly by cement companies.
Furthermore, the SC has also allowed import of Raw Petroleum Coke by calciners and Calcined Petroleum Coke by aluminum industry with specified quantity limits. Based on DGFT notification dated 26 Nov’18, the licenses for import will be issued by 21 Dec’18 with validity up to 31 Mar’19. This will also help increase the import and/or consumption of pet coke in India.
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