Coal news and updates

Sharp fall in India’s coal imports from S Africa in Nov

December 03: Indian companies’ coal imports from Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) of South Africa fell sharply during the month of November as compared to October (month-on-month), but rose sharply if compared with November 2013 (year-on-year), according to data available with ICMW.

The imports in November stood at 2,421,908 tons, down 33.86% from 3,661,610 tons imported in October, but up 47.29% as compared to 1,644,342 tons imported in November 2013.

Consequent to the decline in m-o-m imports, India’s share in total exports of 7.11 million tons (mt) from RBCT fell to 34% in November from a high of 57.28% in October when the total exports through the terminal stood at 6.39 mt.

Incidentally, India’s coal imports from South Africa had declined gradually from 2.86 mt in July to 2.59 mt in August to 2.25 mt in September before surging sharply in October due to a soft price trend prevailing in September.

With this, India’s total coal imports from South Africa during the 11 months of 2014 stood at 26.65 mt, up 34.73% from 19.78 mt imported during the corresponding 11 months of 2013.

Going by the trend so far, India’s coal imports from South Africa are likely to touch 30 mt in 2014.

Incidentally, India’s coal imports in 2013 had declined a bit from the 2012 level of 21.45 mt largely on account of a spurt in coal prices in the second quarter of 2013 and a sharp depreciation in the Indian currency that had made imports highly expensive for Indian companies.

However, the situation has changed a lot since then and not only prices have softened to a great extent, but there is also a semblance of stability in the Indian currency which has, to some extent, encouraged higher imports in 2014.

India’s coal imports from South Africa stood at 16.13 mt in 2011, 20.99 mt in 2010 and at 17.84 mt in 2009.

The imports from South Africa stood at 20.45 mt in 2013-14, at 21.16 mt in 2012-13 and at 17.35 mt in 2011-12.

In November a total of 27 vessels had sailed from RBCT for India as against 38 vessels in October, 23 in September and 25 in August.

Of the 27 vessels in November, 1 vessel (54,337 tons) came to Porbandar,  2 vessels (325,627 tons) to Gangavaram, 1 vessel (48822 tons) to Haldia, 2 (152,560 tons) to Jaigarh, 3 (193,132 tons) to Kakinada, 1 vessel (159,256 tons) to Krishnapatnam, 2 vessels (169,632 tons) to Mormugao, 2 vessels (326,800) to Mundra, 1 (70,500 tons) to New Mangalore, 4 vessels (229,093 tons) to Paradip, but the destination of the balance 8 vessels (692,149 tons) was not immediately available.

Of the 38 vessels in October, 8 vessels (991,585 tons) came to Dhamra Port, 6 (723,668 tons) to Gangavaram Port, 4 vessels (560,000 tons) to Krishnapatnam Port, 5 vessels (354,130 tons) to Paradip Port and six vessels (443,991 tons) to Vizag Port amongst others.

Following are the details of India's monthly coal imports from RBCT in 2014 and 2013 (in tons):