Coal imports hit record high in June

NEW DELHI: India’s coal imports hit a record high in June despite high global prices, data from three trade sources and Refinitiv ship tracking showed, as economic activity picked up and amid a domestic shortage of the fuel.
India imported over 25 million tonnes of thermal coal and coking coal in June, rising by over a third compared with the same period last year, data from consultancies Coalmint and Kpler, and trader I-Energy Natural Resources showed.
Imports of thermal coal – used mainly in electricity generation – jumped to 19.6 million tonnes, while shipments of coking coal – used in steelmaking – rose to about 5.4 million tonnes, Coalmint and I-energy data showed.
Coal accounts for nearly three-fourths of India’s power output, and utilities account for over 75% of India’s coal consumption.