India Coal Imports Fall 5.83 Percent in August 2026
The Ministry of Coal reported a decline in coal imports to 104.57 million tonnes in August 2026 due to increased domestic production.
India's coal imports fell 5.83 percent year-on-year to 104.57 million tonnes in August 2026, down from 111.05 million tonnes in August 2025. The Ministry of Coal attributed the decline to increased domestic production and strengthened supply-chain infrastructure, noting that the share of imported coal in total consumption dropped from 21.20 percent to 19.30 percent.
A significant 35.23 percent drop occurred in coal imports for blending at domestic power plants, which fell to 3 million tonnes. In contrast, imports by plants designed specifically for imported coal rose slightly by 0.98 percent to 18.31 million tonnes. Coking coal imports for the steel industry declined 4.18 percent to 27.30 million tonnes, though the ministry noted that indigenous reserves remain insufficient for the steel sector's specific quality requirements.
To further reduce import dependence and ensure uninterrupted power generation, the government is coordinating efforts between the Ministry of Coal, the Ministry of Railways, and Coal India Limited to improve transportation and evacuation infrastructure.
