Coal news and updates

Logistics may hit coal imports despite demand

April 9: Logistics problems are likely to have a negative impact on India’s coal imports in the current fiscal (2015-16) despite demand, a Delhi-based trader told ICMW over phone.

“Railways’ evacuation capacity is almost full and new imports will lead to evacuation capacity challenges. So, coal imports in the coming fiscal might be affected,” he said.

According to data available with ICMW, coal stocks at nine major and minor ports of India remained at 8.135 million tons (mt) as on April 3, up from 8.084 mt recorded as on March 6.

But, he said, as far as demand of imported coal is concerned, there is scope for growth in imports.

“Coal India Limited once again failed to meet its target despite pressure from the government and so much advantage of coal evacuation. So, this year too, imports should go up as far as demand is concerned but the problem will be of logistics,” he added.