Coal news and updates

India’s coal imports from S Africa up 46% in 2014

January 14: Indian companies’ coal imports from Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) in South Africa rose sharply during 2014 (January-December) as compared to that in 2013, according to data available with ICMW.

India’s total coal imports from South Africa during 2014 stood at 30.172 million tons (mt), up 45.89% from 20.68 mt imported during January-December, 2013.

Incidentally, India’s coal imports in 2013 had declined a bit from the 2012 level of 21.45 mt largely on account of a spurt in coal prices in the second quarter of 2013 and a sharp depreciation in the Indian currency that had made imports highly expensive for Indian companies.

However, the situation has changed a lot since then and not only prices have softened to a great extent, there is also a semblance of stability in the Indian currency which has, to some extent, encouraged higher imports in 2014. Particularly, a spurt in imports has been witnessed during the months of October and December in 2014, as per data available.

Going by the trend so far and if prices remain the way they are, India’s coal imports from South Africa are likely to surpass 35 mt in 2015.

In fact, Indian companies’ coal imports from RBCT of South Africa rose sharply during the month of December as compared to November (month-on-month), and also rose sharply if compared with December 2013 (year-on-year), according to data available with ICMW.

The imports in December stood at 3,522,697 tons, up 45.45% from 2,421,908 tons imported in November, and also up almost 3.9 times as compared to 897,147 tons imported in December 2013.

With this, India’s share in the total exports of 7.95 mt from RBCT rose to 44.31% in December from 34% in November when total exports through the terminal had stood at 7.11 mt.

India’s coal imports from South Africa stood at 16.13 mt in 2011, 20.99 mt in 2010 and at 17.84 mt in 2009.

Imports from South Africa stood at 20.45 mt in 2013-14, at 21.16 mt in 2012-13 and at 17.35 mt in 2011-12.

In December, a total of 43 vessels had sailed from RBCT for India as against 27 vessels in November and 38 in October.

Out of the 43 vessels in December, 5 (338,632 tons) came to Paradip Port, 3 (203,495 tons) came to Dahej Port, 3 (325,660 tons) to Kandla Port and 3 vessels (224,328 tons) to Vizag Port amongst others.

Following are the details of India's monthly coal imports from RBCT in 2014 and 2013 (in tons):