India’s coal imports climb 43% in May, shipping data shows

New Delhi: India, the world’s third-largest coal consumer, imported 43% more of the fuel than a year ago on increased demand from power stations and steelmakers, according to shipping data.

add_main_image“Adani Enterprises Ltd, Tata Group, JSW Group and Steel Authority of India Ltd were among buyers who received 16.77 million tonnes of coal, from 11.75 million in the same month last year,” according to Interocean Group, a New Delhi- based shipper. “This included 13.39 million tonnes of steam coal and 3.38 million of coking coal at 23 ports.”

India, where 59% of electricity generation is coal-fired, added 1,570 megawatts of thermal power in May to boost its total installed capacity to 225,133 megawatts, according to the Central Electricity Authority. The nation’s steel production expanded by 1.5% in May, slowing from 3.5% in April, the Economic Times reported on 24 June.NextMAds

“The port of Mundra, operated by Adani Group, India’s biggest importer of the fuel, received the highest volume at 3.48 million tonnes,” according to Interocean’s data. “The eastern ports of Krishnapatnam, Paradip and Gangavaram took in 1.71 million, 1.31 million and 1.12 million tonnes, respectively.”

Indonesia was the biggest source of coal imports with 11.76 million tonnes, the data show. Australia supplied 2.85 million tonnes and South Africa exported 1.73 million. Imports from the US totalled 289,183 tonnes. New Zealand, Russia and Mozambique shipped 74,076 tonnes, 35,000 tonnes and 30,416 tonnes, respectively.

“Power-station coal at Australia’s port of Newcastle, the Asian benchmark price, fell 2.1% to $81.20 a tonne in the week ended 21 June,” according to data from IHS McCloskey. “That was a fourth weekly decline.”