Coal news and updates

Pet coke imports via Chennai drop to 167 tons in Aug

September 24: Petroleum coke imports through Chennai Port dropped to 167 tons in August 2014 against a volume of 612 tons reported in July, as per provisional information available with ICMW.

Imports of the material in August 2013 stood at 147 tons.

Imports of pet coke through the port in the first five months of the current financial year stood at 1,617 tons as against 1,738 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 August, imports included 120 tons from China in a price band of Rs 45,227 – Rs 23,137 ($731-378), 24 tons from Germany at a unit price of Rs 48,651 ($787), 18 tons from Sweden at a unit price of Rs 71,116 ($1,150) amongst others.

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)

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 a public interest litigation (PIL). However, old stocks are getting cleared.