NEW DELHI: The country’s coal imports rose 4.2 percent to 162.45 million tonnes (MT) in the April-October period of the current fiscal from 155.87 million tonnes (MT) in the year-ago period. Imports of Coal According to data compiled by mjunction services, a B2B e-commerce platform, exports fell 14.4 per cent to 21.84 MT in October from 25.54 MT in the same month last fiscal.
Of the total imports in October, non-coking coal imports stood at 13.49 MT as against 18.82 MT imported in October last fiscal. Import of Coking Coal 4.45 MT as against 4.31 MT in October last fiscal.
Non-coking coal imports were 13.24 MT and coking coal 3.39 MT in September.
“Non-coking coal volumes rose modestly (month-on-month) in October as buyers took fresh positions during the festive month and ahead of winter. Domestic supply growth expected during fourth quarter (Q4).”
Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy had recently urged the steel sector to reduce its dependence on imported coal and make necessary changes in technology.
The minister had said that the import of coal should be reduced in a phased manner. The steel industry uses coking coal.
The minister also hoped that the coal production target of 1,080 million tonnes for the current financial year would be met.