India's thermal coal imports rise over 14 pct in Q2 - trader

JSW Holdings

24/07/2018 07:44

NEW DELHI, July 24 (Reuters) - India's thermal coal imports
rose by more than 14 percent in the second quarter of 2018 from
a year earlier, putting the energy-hungry nation on track for a
rise in annual imports after two straight years of decline.
    Indian imports rose to 43.4 million tonnes during the three
months ended June 30, up from 37.9 million a year ago, according
to data from American Fuels & Natural Resources, a Dubai-based
trader of coal from the United States which tracks shipments
around the region. 
    That is India's highest quarterly import tally in two years,
which along with higher consumption in China has been a major
driver behind the strong recovery seen in benchmark Australian
coal prices this year.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1TF20X
    The strong purchases take India's first-half imports to 81.9
million tonnes, up 13 percent from the 72.3 million tonnes
imported over the same period in 2017.
    Domestic logistical bottlenecks due to a shortage of trains,
regulatory changes targeting pollution cuts and surging power
demand have all fuelled the higher imports, which are expected
to stay firm through the rest of the year  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1QC31T. 
    "Users of petcoke switching over to coal due to a ban in
some regions, regulations being contemplated in others, and
logistical bottlenecks are driving coal demand in India,"
Vasudev Pamnani, a senior coal trader from American Fuels, told
Reuters.
    "Any additional demand will be addressed by imports, and
India will support pricing."    
    Indonesia accounted for over three-fifths of total supplies
during the latest quarter, while South Africa accounted for over
a fifth, according to vessel arrival data tracked by American
Fuels.
    U.S. coal made up about 9 percent, the data showed.
    Adani Enterprises  ADEL.NS , India's largest coal trader,
accounted for over 14 percent of all imports, purchasing about
6.23 million tonnes during the period, the data showed.
    The Tata Group imported 2.16 million tonnes of coal, while
Swiss Singapore, part of the Aditya Birla Group, shipped in 2.21
million tonnes and JSW Group brought in 2.14 million tonnes.
    The companies did not respond to requests for comment.
    The Mundra port brought in the most coal shipments, and
accounted for about 13.6 percent of all imports, according to
American Fuels. Krishnapatnam took 11.5 percent, while Kandla
handled about 9.3 percent of all imports. 

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India's thermal coal imports rose by more than 14 percent in the
second quarter of 2018 from a year earlier    https://reut.rs/2LNqK3i
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 (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; editing by Richard Pullin)
 ((Sudarshan.Varadhan@thomsonreuters.com; +911149548059;
Twitter: https://twitter.com/turvytopsy @turvytopsy; Reuters
Messaging: sudarshan.varadhan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))