Coal news and updates

Pet coke imports via Chennai down 68.50% in Oct m-o-m

November 26: Petroleum coke imports through Chennai port dropped 68.50% to 40 tons in October 2013 against 127 tons reported in September 2013, as per provisional information available with ICMW.

With this, the quantum of pet coke imports via this port in the first seven months of 2013-14 comprised 1905 tons against 1,417 tons recorded for the same period in the previous fiscal.

Coal handling at Chennai port has been suspended since October last year following a ban imposed by the Madras High Court on handling of dirty cargo of coal and iron ore at Chennai port with effect from October 1, 2011. The court order came following the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL). However, old stocks are getting cleared at the port.

The following table contains the month-wise import figures of pet coke via Chennai port during 2013-14 and 2012-13:

In October 2013, imports included 20 tons from China at Rs 48,329 ($773) per ton, 3 ton from Japan at Rs 312,288 per ton and 18 tons from Sweden at Rs 75,811 ($1,212) per ton.

In September 2013, however, 102 tons arrived from China in a price band of Rs 28,760-Rs 30,805 ($451-$483) per ton while 24 tons arrived from Germany at a unit price of Rs 51,902 ($775) and 1.1 tons arrived from Japan at a unit price of Rs 32,7511 ($4,888).