India’s Coal Imports Increase 8% in First Half of FY25 Amid Healthy Stock Levels
India’s coal imports saw a 7.8% increase in the first half of the current financial year, rising to 140.60 million tonnes (MT) from 130.34 MT in the same period last year, as per data from mjunction services ltd, a B2B e-commerce platform.
Import Trends and Domestic Production
While the April-September period marked a rise in overall coal imports, demand remained moderate due to ample domestic stock and increased availability through spot e-auctions. “Overall, coal import demand is likely to remain modest due to the healthy stock position and high volumes being offered through spot e-auctions in the domestic market,” stated mjunction MD and CEO Vinaya Varma.
In September alone, coal imports dropped by 10.09% to 19.42 MT, down from 21.60 MT in the previous year. Non-coking coal imports stood at 13.24 MT in September, compared to 14.88 MT in the same month last year. Coking coal imports also saw a decline to 3.39 MT from 4.59 MT.
Non-Coking vs. Coking Coal Imports
During the April-September period, non-coking coal imports rose to 91.92 MT, up from 83.45 MT last year, while coking coal imports dropped slightly to 28.18 MT from 29.44 MT. Varma noted a marginal increase in non-coking coal imports in September, attributed to heightened demand ahead of the festive season, whereas coking coal imports declined due to reduced steel demand and prices.
Push for Increased Domestic Coal Production
India’s domestic coal production also showed an uptick, increasing by 6% to reach 453 MT during April-September FY25, compared to 428 MT in the same period last year. Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy emphasized Coal India’s objective to boost coal output and curb import dependence. Coal India Ltd., responsible for over 80% of the country’s coal production, plays a pivotal role in this goal.
This trend underscores India’s focus on balancing coal import needs while ramping up domestic production to support industrial demand and reduce reliance on imported coal.
