Coal news and updates

Pet coke imports via Chennai drop marginally in July

August 26: Petroleum coke imports through Chennai Port dropped nominally to 612 tons against 622 tons reported in June 2014, as per provisional information available with ICMW.

Imports of the material in July 2013 stood at a mere 73 tons.

Imports of pet coke through the port in the first four months of the current financial year stood at 1,450 tons as against 1,591 tons imported in the same period of previous fiscal (2013-14).

The following table contains the month-wise import figures of pet coke via Chennai port during 2013-14 and 2014-15:

In July, 562 tons arrived from China in a price band of Rs 24,032 – Rs 44,203 ($396-507) per ton, 48 tons from Germany in a range of Rs 48,270 – Rs 48,358 ($795-805) per ton and the balance 2 tons from Japan at Rs 29,893 per ton ($497)

In June, 561 tons arrived from China in a price band of Rs 23,877 – Rs 44,069 ($395-736) per ton, 24 tons from Germany at Rs 47,869 ($800) per ton, 2 tons from Japan at Rs 29,687 ($494) and the balance 35 tons from Sweden in a range of Rs 70,725 – Rs 70,823 ($1,182-1,172) per ton.     

Coal handling at Chennai Port has been suspended since October 2012 following a ban imposed by the Madras High Court on handling of dirty cargo of coal and iron ore at the port with effect from October 1, 2011. The court order came following the hearing of public interest litigation (PIL). However, old stocks are getting cleared.