New Delhi: The country’s coal import registered a decline of 26.8 percent to 15.75 million tonnes in October over the same month a year ago, according to the data compiled by mjunction services.
“India's coal and coke imports in October 2021 through the major and non-major ports are estimated to have decreased by 26.8 percent over October 2020,” according to the data.
The data by mjunction, a joint venture between Tata Steel and SAIL, show the coal import was, however, up six percent in October as compared to 14.85 million tonnes imported during September 2021.
“While there was strong demand for coal from the power sector during the festive season, firm prices in the seaborne market restricted import volumes,” said Vinaya Varma, MD and CEO, mjunction, commenting on the coal import trend, PTI reported.
“Going forward, improved domestic supply in the coming months is likely to keep import demand low,” added the MD and CEO of mjunction, which is a B2B e-commerce company and also publishes research reports on coal and steel verticals.
Of the total import in October this year, non-coking coal was at 9.47 million tonnes against 14.46 million tonnes imported in October 2020.
Earlier in October 2020, India had imported 21.50 million tonnes of coal.
Coking coal import was at 4.05 million tonnes, lower than 4.92 million tonnes imported in October 2020.
The total coal import stood at 123.09 million tonnes during the April-October period of the ongoing fiscal -- about 5.4 percent higher than 116.81 million tonnes in the year-ago period.
The non-coking coal import was at 79.54 million tonnes during the April-October period, slightly higher than 77.67 During the April-October period, imported during April-October of the previous fiscal.
The coking coal import was at 30.51 million tonnes against 23.89 million tonnes imported during the year-ago period.