Thermal coal imports via major ports up by 36%

The 12 government-owned major ports in the country handled around 5.5 mt of imported thermal coal, which is up by 10 per cent on the year, while coking coal imports rose 21 per cent to 3.4 mt, says latest data by Indian ports Association (IPA).

The 12 ports handled 47.8 million tonne (mt) of imported thermal coal during April-November, up 35.7 per cent from 35.2 mt from the same period a year ago. Coking coal imports into the 12 ports, meanwhile, rose 7.8 per cent to 22 mt in the period. The 12 ports are: Kolkata, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Ennore, Chennai, VO Chidambaranar (Tuticorin), Cochin, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Kandla.

IPA said, Paradip port on the east coast received the biggest thermal coal shipments at 16.4 mt during the period, an boost of 25 per cent on the year. Mormugao port on west coast received the biggest volume of coking coal during the eight-month period, at approximately 4.9 mt, up 19.5 per cent.

The 12 ports, in November, handled around 5.5 mt of imported thermal coal, up 10 per cent on the year, while coking coal imports rose 21 per cent to 3.4 mt.