Coal news and updates

Sharp rise in Jan pet coke imports via Chennai m-o-m

February 16: Petroleum coke imports through Chennai Port rose sharply to 392 tons in January 2015 against a volume of 105 tons imported in December 2014, as per provisional information available with ICMW.

Imports of the material in January 2014 stood at 105 tons.

Imports of pet coke through the port in the 10 months of the current financial year stood at 3,627 tons as against 2,264 tons imported in the same period of the 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 January, 361 tons came from China at a price range of Rs 21,780-Rs 44,473 ($341-$714) per ton, 24 tons arrived from Germany at a unit price of Rs 42,057 ($675), 2 tons from Japan a unit price of Rs 28,756 ($451) and the balance 5 tons from the UK at a unit price of Rs 53,317 ($836).

In December, 62 tons came from China at a price range of Rs 30,805-Rs 43,626 ($493-$698) per ton, 24 tons arrived from Germany at a unit price of Rs 45,167 ($707), 1 ton came from Japan at a unit price of Rs 27,985 ($448), 18 tons came from Sweden at a unit price of Rs 72,594($ 1,162).

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.