India has recorded a decline in total coal imports by 5.83 percent from August 2025 to August this year. The Ministry of Coal informed that since August of the previous year, coal imports have fallen from 111 million tonnes to 104 million tonnes.
The ministry noted that the decline reflects the continued efforts to enhance domestic coal production improve availability and strengthen the supply chain, with a view to reducing the country’s dependence on imported coal. Highlighting the reduction of the coal imports across different plants from August 2025 to August this year, the ministry reported power plants recorded a decrease of 6 percent from 22 million tonnes in August 2025 to 21 million tonnes in August this year.
It noted Coal imports for blending at domestic coal-based power plants recorded a decline of 35 percent, from 4 million tonnes to 3 million tonnes during the said period. Meanwhile, Coking coal imports decreased by 4 percent, from 28 million tonnes to 27 million tonnes since august 2025.
The ministry also noted a minimal increase of 0.98 percent was recorded by coal-based power plants since August last year. It further highlighted that the share of imported coal in India’s total coal consumption decreased from 21 percent in August 2025 to 19 percent, a decline of 1.90 percentage points during the period.
The ministry stressed that with this figure, it continues to focus on increasing domestic coal production and off take, strengthening First Mile Connectivity, improving coal evacuation infrastructure and closely monitoring coal stock levels at thermal power plants.
