NEW DELHI, Sep 7: India’s coal imports declined by 16.4% to 21.08 million tonnes (MT) in July 2025, down from 25.23 MT in the same month last year, driven by sluggish demand during the monsoon season and high domestic stock availability.
According to mjunction services, a B2B e-commerce platform backed by Tata Steel and SAIL, imports during the April–July period of the current fiscal also fell to 97.49 MT from 100.48 MT year-on-year.
mjunction MD & CEO Vinaya Varma noted the decline was seasonal, but expects a rebound in demand ahead of the festive season beginning late September.
In July, non-coking coal imports dropped significantly to 11.54 MT from 16.52 MT in the previous year, while coking coal imports rose to 5.85 MT from 4.81 MT. During April–July, non-coking coal imports stood at 60.62 MT, down from 65.64 MT last year, whereas coking coal imports increased to 22.22 MT from 20.26 MT.
Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy recently stated that India is well-prepared to meet coal demand during the monsoon and ruled out any supply shortage, particularly for the power sector.
The government remains committed to reducing dependence on imports, improving domestic coal availability, and promoting sustainable growth in the sector.
With continued momentum and policy support, the coal sector continues to play a pivotal role in powering India’s economic growth while transitioning toward greater energy security and reduced reliance on external sources. (PTI)
