Coal news and updates

Pet coke imports via Chennai rise to 387 tons in Sept

October 28: Petroleum coke imports through Chennai Port rose to 387 tons in September 2014 against a volume of 167 tons in August, as per provisional information available with ICMW.

Imports of the material in September 2013 stood at 127 tons.

Imports of pet coke through the port in the first six months of the current financial year stood at 2004 tons as against 1,865 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 September, 320 tons arrived from China in a band of Rs 24,028 – Rs 44,912 ($394 – 733) per ton, 48 tons came in from Germany in a range of Rs 46,659- Rs 47,186 ($756-774) per ton, 18 came in from Sweden at a unit price of Rs 71,761 ($1176) while the balance 1 ton arrived from Japan where the price could not be ascertained.

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.

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.