Indian coal prices to be lower after tax revision, industry officials say

Coal prices in India will fall after revisions to taxes on the fuel that generates nearly 75% of the country’s electricity, industry officials and analysts said, as a higher consumption tax is offset by the removal of a carbon levy.

That could push up domestic consumption at the expense of imports, they said, putting further pressure on already plunging global coal prices.

India’s finance minister hiked consumption levies on coal to 18% from 5% on Wednesday. However, buyers no longer have to pay a flat carbon tax of 400 Indian rupees ($4.57) a metric ton, known as a cess.