India’s coal imports rose 13 per cent to 26 tonnes in April: ruling, ET EnergyWorld

New Delhi: India’s coal imports rose 13.2 per cent to 26.10 million tonnes (MT) in April 2024 as buyers took new positions with the early onset of summer. According to data compiled by B2B e-commerce firm mjunction Services Ltd, the country imported 23.05 tonnes of coal last year.

This comes after Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy’s statement that India should increase domestic production of fossil fuels and reduce coal imports.

“India’s April 2024 coal and coke imports through major and minor ports increased by 13.2% compared to April 2023.” – according to the data.

Of the total imports in April, non-coking coal imports amounted to 17.40 tons compared to 15.15 tons a month earlier. Imports of coking coal amounted to 4.97 tons compared to 4.77 tons.

“There has been an increase in volumes… Going forward, demand from both the power and unregulated sectors may persist in view of pre-monsoon restocking,” mjunction MD and CEO Vinaya Varma said.

Coal imports in April increased by 8.93%. compared to March, when imports amounted to 23.96 tons.

India’s coal imports rose 7.7 per cent to 268.24 tonnes in FY24 on weak shipping prices and the likelihood of an increase in power demand during the summer period.

The country’s coal import in FY2023 was 249.06 tonnes.