Coal news and updates

Apr-Jul coal imports surge 18%; FY15 figure to cross 200 mt

August 21: India’s coal imports (coking coal, steam coal, PCI, anthracite coal, pet coke, met coke) during the first four months (April-July) of 2014-15 surged nearly 18% to 76.56 million tons (mt) from 65.02 mt imported during the corresponding period of 2013-14, according to a compilation by ICMW based on data received from multiple sources.

This indicates that India’s coal imports during the full financial year of 2014-15 would surely cross 200 mt after touching a high of 181.60 mt in 2013-14.

The surge in imports was primarily driven by steam coal, the import of which rose nearly 21% to 62.54 mt during the first four months of 2014-15 as compared to 50.92 mt during the same period of 2013-14, the data revealed.

The import of pet coke on the other hand jumped 73% to 1.37 mt from 0.79 mt whereas metallurgical (met) coke imports increased 9% to 0.95 mt from 0.87 mt.

Coking coal and PCI coal imports remained almost flat at 11.87 mt and 0.45 mt from 11.72 mt and 0.44 mt respectively in the four months of the previous financial year.

The following table gives detailed break-up of various types of coal imported through 30 major and minor ports of the country in 2013-14, April-July 2013-14 and April-July 2014-15: