India imported 27% more coal in September, Interocean data show.

India, the world’s third-largest coal user, increased imports of the fuel in September by 27% from a year earlier. Adani Enterprises Ltd, Tata Group, JSW Group and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) were among companies that received 12.23 million tonnes last month, compared with 9.6 million tonnes a year earlier, according to Interocean Group.

India received 9.15 million tonnes of steam coal and 3.08 million of the coking variety at 22 of the 28 ports listed by Interocean, a shipper based in New Delhi. Imports in September were 6% lower from August when it imported 10.35 million tonnes of steam coal and 2.66 million tonnes of coking, according to Interocean.

Mundra, the western Indian port operated by Adani Group, India’s biggest coal importer, received the most volumes in September at 2.67 million tonnes, according to Interocean. Dahej, also on the west coast, received about 1.01 million tonnes. The ports of Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram and Visakhapatnam, all on the eastern coast, took in about 1.12 million tonnes, 979,625 tonnes and 867,868 tonnes respectively, the data show.

Indonesia was India’s biggest supplier at 7.95 million tonnes, as per Interocean. Australia and South Africa shipped 2.33 million tonnes and 1.19 million tonnes, data show. US, Canada and New Zealand accounted for about 392,092 tonnes, 156,835 tonnes and 98,038 tonnes. India also imported 58,439 tonnes from Mozambique and 68,075 tonnes of Russian coal.

The power-station coal at Australia’s port of Newcastle, the Asian benchmark price, climbed 1.6% in September to $78.30 a tonne, according to data from IHS McCloskey.

Source : shippingtribune.com