India’s coal imports fell 16.4% year-on-year to 21.08 million tonnes (MT) in July, weighed down by subdued demand during the monsoon season and the availability of high stock, according to data from mjunction services, a B2B e-commerce platform jointly promoted by Tata Steel and SAIL.
Imports stood at 25.23 MT in the same month last year. For the April–July period of FY26, cumulative coal imports declined to 97.49 MT, compared with 100.48 MT in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
Mjunction MD & CEO Vinaya Varma said, “There was a decline in volumes due to sluggish demand during monsoon and the high stock available in the system. We expect to see an uptick in demand before the festive season starting end-September” .
Breakdown of Imports
July 2025:
Non-coking coal imports: 11.54 MT (down from 16.52 MT YoY)
Coking coal imports: 5.85 MT (up from 4.81 MT YoY)
April–July 2025:
Non-coking coal: 60.62 MT (down from 65.64 MT YoY)
Coking coal: 22.22 MT (up from 20.26 MT YoY)
Government Preparedness
Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy had earlier assured that India would not face shortages during the monsoon, citing adequate preparedness to meet demand across sectors, particularly power.
The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring sustainable growth, improving domestic availability, and reducing import dependence.
Despite short-term fluctuations, the coal sector remains critical to India’s energy security and continues to play a pivotal role in powering the country’s growth story.