India September Coal Imports Dropped 6.3%, Interocean Data Show

Tue,Oct 25, 2011

Coal imports by India’s power, cement and steel companies fell 6.3 percent in September, the second consecutive monthly drop, according to data from the Interocean Group of Companies.

Adani Enterprises Ltd. (ADE), Bhatia International Ltd., JSW Energy Ltd. (JSW) and other companies imported 9.27 million metric tons of steam and coking coal last month via 28 Indian ports, Interocean, a New Delhi-based ship broker, said in a document obtained by Bloomberg News. That’s down from 9.9 million tons received in August.

Mundra, a port on the west coast, where the Adani group imports most of its coal, received the highest shipments totaling 1.9 million tons. The eastern ports of Paradip, Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram received 927,213 tons, 723,422 tons and 624,837 tons of the commodity, respectively, Interocean data showed. Visakhapatnam, also in the east, received 615,225 tons.

Most imports came from Indonesia, Australia and South Africa, according to the document.

(sourced Bloomberg)

Non coking coal to be graded on gross calorific value in India

Sunday, 16 Oct 2011

It is reported that Ministry of Coal has decided to switch over from the existing Useful Heat Value based system of grading and pricing of non-coking coals to fully variable Gross Calorific Value based system with effect from January 1 2012.

This is an international practice of trading of coal which has been recommended for adoption by a number of high level committees including the integrated Energy Policy Committee. This system will ensure a high degree of consistency in quality of coal supplies and result in high consumer satisfaction.

The coal companies have been advised to gear themselves for building up required infrastructure for sampling and analysis of coal before dispatch to the consumers in these lines.

(sourced from Indiainfoline)

Indian coking coal imports in April to September 2011slip YoY

Thursday, 13 Oct 2011

BS citing experts and traders reported that coking coal imports into India dropped for the first time in last three months despite price fall in global markets as costlier dollar and an ailing steel industry demand squeezed import orders.

Data from Indian Ports Association showed that in April to September 2011 period, coking coal imports through Kolkata and Haldia was 2.83 million tonnes, down by 16% as compared with the same period in 2010. Imports at Visakhapatnam port dropped by 15.3% and at Paradip, the decline was 3.3% for the same period. These three eastern Indian ports account for almost 60% of India's coking coal import.

In April to September 2011 period, total imports declined by 0.4% YoY, after growing 2.3% in April to August 2011 period and 9.3% in April to July 2011 period.

Mr Arun Bhattoria, a Kolkata based coal trader, said that "Steel industry demand for coke has come down given the higher rates for iron ore. Some steel plants have raised steel prices while traders are importing steel, which gives better return than coking coal imports."

Mr Sandeep Jain, commodity analyst with Karvy Comtrade, said that "The main reason for coking coal import drop is the depreciation of rupee against the dollar. The rupee has weakened by almost 6% in the last month. Even though coking coal rates have gone down in dollar terms in global markets, Indian importers were unable to take the opportunity as dollar became costlier here."

Coking coal is currently priced at USD 280 per tonne, down from USD 310 a tonne in July to August 2011. The rates have come down as supply has improved from major exporter Australia after devastating flood there affected production in January.

(sourced from BS)

Coking coal imports slip on costlier dollar, poor demand

Wed,October 12, 2011
By Sadananda Mohapatra

Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar: Coking coal imports dropped for the first time in last three months despite price fall in global markets as costlier dollar and an ailing steel industry demand squeezed import orders, said experts and traders.

In April-September period, coking coal imports through Kolkata and Haldia was 2.83 million tonne, down by 16 per cent compared with the same period last year. Imports at Visakhapatnam port dropped by 15.3 per cent and at Paradip, the decline was 3.3 per cent for the same period, data from Indian Ports Association showed.

These three eastern Indian ports account for almost 60 per cent of India's coking coal import. In April-September, total imports declined by 0.4 per cent year on year, after growing 2.3 percent in April-August and 9.3 per cent in April-July period.

"The main reason for coking coal import drop is the depreciation of rupee against the dollar. The rupee has weakened by almost 6 per cent in the last month. Even though coking coal rates have gone down in dollar terms in global markets, Indian importers were unable to take the opportunity as dollar became costlier here,” said Sandeep Jain, commodity analyst with Karvy Comtrade.

Coking coal is currently priced at $280 per tonne, down from $310 a tonne in July-August. The rates have come down as supply has improved from major exporter Australia after devastating flood there affected production in January.

India imports coking coal mainly from Australia and Indonesia to feed its speedily expanding steel industry. Of late, steel mills in India are running below their normal capacity because of shortage of iron ore availability as restrictions in major producing states like Orissa and Karnataka brought down productions.

"Steel industry demand for coke has come down given the higher rates for iron ore. Some steel plants have raised steel prices while traders are importing steel, which gives better return than coking coal imports,” said Arun Bhattoria, a Kolkata-based coal trader. (sourced BS)

India may remove 5pct duty on coking coal - Report

Thursday, 21 Jul 2011 | Indianexpress

To boost India-New Zealand bilateral ties, the finance ministry is eager to consider exempting the 5% customs duty on weak coking coal for steel makers using the blast furnace route. It has asked the steel ministry if it wanted a zero duty window.

Anticipating export losses to India, the New Zealand government had suggested extending the exemption to producers using the blast furnace technology.

Its officials told commerce and industry minister Mr Anand Sharma that more than 90% of their export of coal to India fell in the category where weak coking coal is imported by steel makers using this technology.

In a letter on June 18, Mr Sunil Mitra finance secretary informed steel secretary Mr Pradeep Kumar Misra that his ministry had received many representations from domestic steel producers seeking duty exemption on a certain variety of weak coking coal imported by them. The ministry agreed to it for all producers except those using the BF system.

Mr Mitra told the steel secretary that “The New Zealand High Commission too has taken up the matter of extending the said exemption to these producers. This development is likely to adversely impact trade between New Zealand and India about which concerns were raised by them during the recent visit of our commerce and industry minister to their country.”

Coking coal imports decline strongly at Indian port of Paradip in June

Friday,08 July 2011

With high prices leading to low demand, coking coal imports via the port of Paradip in the eastern Indian state of Orissa declined in June this year to 482,593 mt, as reported by leading Indian business newspaper Business Standard. This volume was down significantly from 632,795 mt in May, indicating a decrease of 24 percent. The coking coal import volume via Paradip in April had totaled 656,295 mt. (By steelorbis)

Indian coking coal needs may go up by 22pct next fiscal - Mr Jaiswal

Thursday, 03 Mar 2011

According to Indian coal minister Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal, India's coking coal requirements could increase by nearly 22% to 85.34 million tonnes in the next fiscal

Mr Jaiswal said that “Coking coal requirement for steel production is expected to be 85.34 million tonnes in 2011-12, as steel production is dependent on coking coal.”

Mr Jaiswal added that “Coal demand from the domestic cement industry also looks bright and it is expected that coal need would rise steadily during 2011-12.”

The domestic steel industry is expected to use about 70 million tonnes of coking coal in the current financial year ending Mar 31. The country is likely to produce about 65 million tonnes of steel in the current financial year. India meets about 70% if its coking coal needs through imports from countries including Australia, Indonesia and the US. The Minister said that thermal coal requirements for power utilities, too, would grow at 10% during the next financial year. (By TheHindu)

Tags : Australia, Indonesia, U.S., thermal coal, power plants

Indian coking coal imports increase in 2010, 33% YoY JUMP

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011

India imported 36.1 million tonnes of coking coal in 2010, a 33% year-on-year jump, according to The Salva Report.
Australia was by far the biggest supplier of coking coal to the Asian nation, contributing 84% with US imports accounting for 5%, New Zealand 3% and South Africa 2.3%, Salva Reports.

Indian thermal coal imports for Nov dropped to 5.3 million tonnes, from the record 6.4 million tonnes imported in October, according to Salva which said the fall could be attributed to increased domestic production throughout October and the rising cost of imported thermal coal.