Coal Imports Fall to 263.56 Million Tonnes; Domestic Output Crosses 1 Billion Tonne Mark
New Delhi, May 18 — India's coal imports dropped by 1.7 percent to 263.56 million tonnes in the financial year 2024-25, down from 268.24 million tonnes recorded in FY24, according to data compiled by Mjunction Services Ltd, a leading B2B e-commerce platform.
Non-Coking and Coking Coal Imports Dip
During FY25, non-coking coal imports stood at 167.10 million tonnes, marking a decline from 175.96 million tonnes the previous year. Imports of coking coal also fell to 54.08 million tonnes, compared to 57.22 million tonnes in FY24.
In March 2025 alone, total coal imports were 22.79 million tonnes, lower than the 23.96 million tonnes reported in March 2024. Of this, non-coking coal imports totaled 14.84 million tonnes, while coking coal imports were 4.41 million tonnes — both registering a year-on-year decrease.
Market Conditions and Domestic Supply Impact Imports
Vinaya Varma, MD & CEO of mjunction, attributed the decline to prevailing market dynamics. “There was a drop in import volume in March and in FY25, which was in line with market expectation. As the domestic market remains replete with a high stockpile of non-coking coal, we expect the appetite for imports to remain subdued till demand picks up in peak summer,” he noted.
Domestic Coal Production Hits New High
Supporting this decline in imports is the surge in domestic coal output, which crossed the one billion tonne mark for the first time. India produced a provisional total of 1,047.57 million tonnes of coal in FY25, up from 997.83 million tonnes in the previous fiscal, representing a growth of 4.99 percent.
Government Push Towards Self-Reliance
The coal ministry reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing domestic coal production to reduce reliance on imports. It emphasized continued efforts towards fostering self-reliance, promoting sustainable mining practices, and strengthening the country's energy security and economic resilience.
