New Delhi, March 22 — India’s coal imports declined by 4.2% to 213.10 million tonnes (MT) during the April–January period of the current financial year, with rising seaborne prices expected to keep import volumes subdued in the near term.
The drop reflects the country’s continued push toward self-reliance in coal production, supported by rising domestic output, even as global thermal coal prices remain firm due to supply constraints and geopolitical uncertainties.
Data compiled by mjunction services ltd—a joint venture between SAIL and Tata Steel—showed that non-coking coal imports fell to 127.80 MT during April–January, compared with 141.18 MT in the same period last year.
In contrast, coking coal imports rose to 50.39 MT during the period, up from 45.83 MT a year earlier.
For January alone, total coal imports dropped sharply by 22.1% to 16.64 MT, down from 21.37 MT in the corresponding month of the previous fiscal year. Non-coking coal imports stood at 9.45 MT, compared to 12.33 MT last year, while coking coal imports declined to 4.23 MT from 5.23 MT.
Commenting on the trend, Vinaya Varma noted that thermal coal imports saw a significant year-on-year decline due to ample domestic stock levels. He added that rising international prices are likely to keep imports muted in the near future.
Looking ahead, India’s domestic coal production is projected to grow by 6–7% annually over the next few years, potentially reaching around 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029–30.
Meanwhile, G Kishan Reddy has indicated that the country’s coal demand is expected to continue increasing and may peak around 2040. He emphasized that boosting domestic production remains key to meeting rising energy needs and reducing non-essential imports.
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