India Coal Market Watch said that India’s coal imports rose an estimated 7.6% last year to 118.4 million tones.
The coal newsletter citing calculations based on vessel positions at 25 major and minor ports in India said that overseas purchases of thermal coal rose 11.1% to 84.1 million tonnes in 2011 from 75.7 million in 2010. Coking coal of the steel making variety accounted for the rest.
It said that Indonesia may have accounted for 64 million tonnes of steam coal. According to the note, total purchases were lower than forecast because of slowing economic activity in steel, cement and sponge iron and high stocks in September and October.
Source : steelguru.com