Coal news and updates

Sharp fall in Pet coke imports via Chennai in Dec

January 28: Petroleum coke imports through Chennai Port fell sharply for the month of December 2014 against a volume of 1,039 tons imported in November 2014, as per provisional information available with ICMW.

Imports of the material in December 2013 stood at 141 tons.

Imports of pet coke through the port in the nine months of the current financial year stood at 3,235 tons as against 2,159 tons imported in the same period of the previous fiscal (2013-14).

The following table contains the month-wise import figures of pet coke via Chennai Port during 2013-14 and 2014-15:

In December, 62 tons came from China at a price range of Rs 30,805-Rs 43,626 ($493-$698) per ton, 24 tons arrived from Germany at a unit price of Rs 45,167 ($707), 1 ton came from Japan at a unit price of Rs 27,985 ($448), 18 tons came from Sweden at a unit price of Rs 72,594($ 1,162).

In November, 956 tons came from China at a price range of Rs 21,882-Rs 44,890 ($350-$717) per ton, 59 tons arrived from Germany at a price range of Rs 45,692-Rs 47,961 ($ 738- $766) per ton, 18 tons arrived from Sweden at Rs 72,071 ($1,161-$ 1,162) a ton and balance 7 tons arrived from the UK at a unit price of Rs 52,384 ($846).

Coal handling at Chennai Port has been suspended since October 2012 following a ban imposed by the Madras High Court on handling of dirty cargo of coal and iron ore at the port with effect from October 1, 2011. The court order came following the hearing of public interest litigation (PIL). However, old stocks are getting cleared.