India’s Coal Imports Rise 4.2% in April-October; October Figures Show a 14.4% Decline

India’s coal imports grew by 4.2% during the April-October period of the current financial year, reaching 162.45 million tonnes (MT), compared to 155.87 MT in the same period last year, according to data from mjunction services, a B2B e-commerce platform.

However, coal imports in October declined sharply by 14.4%, standing at 21.84 MT compared to 25.54 MT in October of the previous fiscal. The drop was primarily driven by a reduction in non-coking coal imports, which fell to 13.49 MT from 18.82 MT last year. Coking coal imports in October showed a slight increase, rising to 4.45 MT from 4.31 MT in the same month last year.

In comparison, September saw non-coking coal imports at 13.24 MT and coking coal imports at 3.39 MT.

“There was a modest month-on-month increase in non-coking coal imports in October as buyers took fresh positions during the festive period and in preparation for the winter season. However, demand is expected to moderate in the coming months due to a likely increase in domestic coal supply during the fourth quarter,” said Vinaya Varma, Managing Director and CEO of mjunction.

Focus on Reducing Coal Imports

Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy recently called on the steel industry to reduce its reliance on imported coal and to adopt new technologies that support this transition. The steel sector, a major consumer of coking coal, has been urged to phase down coal imports gradually.

The minister also expressed confidence in achieving the coal production target of 1,080 MT for the current fiscal year, emphasizing the importance of domestic production to meet rising demand and reduce import dependency.

The data reflects a complex scenario where overall imports have risen, but October’s figures suggest a shifting trend influenced by both market dynamics and government efforts to boost domestic coal production.