India’s coal import rises 20 pc in May; volumes may be subdued in monsoon

India’s coal import rose 20.4 per cent to 19.92 million tonnes (MT) in the month of May.

The country had imported 16.54 MT of coal in May last fiscal, according to data compiled by mjunction Services.

“On a year-on-year basis, however, India’s coal and coke imports in May 2021 were up 20.4 per cent as against 16.54 MT clocked in May 2020,” it said.

Import volumes of dry-fuel, it said, are expected to remain subdued in the ongoing monsoon season on account of lower demand, firm prices and high freight rates.

India’s coal import also rose 25.4 per cent to 42.19 MT in the first two months of the ongoing fiscal, against 33.63 MT of coal imported in the corresponding period of previous financial year, it said.