Thermal coal throughput rises at Indian state ports

Cumulative thermal coal throughput at India's 12 major state ports increased by just under 5pc on the year in April-July, despite a generally weak import trend during the period, according to data from India's Port Association (IPA).

• The increase was likely in part driven by the coastal movement of domestic cargoes. The data include transshipped and imported cargoes but does not provide a breakdown.
• Paradip, on the east coast, accounted for the largest share of the throughput in April-July at 18.9mn t, up from 17.2mn t a year earlier.
• Kamarajar, formerly known as Ennore, handled 7.98mn t, up from 7.73mn t a year earlier. Deendayal, on the west coast, handled around 6.5mn t of thermal coal, up from about 6.28mn t a year earlier.
• Mumbai's throughput rose to 3.48mn t from 2.86mn t, while V.O. Chidambaranar handled around 2.8mn t in the four-month period, up from just over 2.45mn t a year earlier.
• The increase in thermal coal throughput at the ports came despite generally weaker imports, which have been pressured by high domestic supplies.
• India's coal-fired power generation reached a record high in July because a weak and uneven monsoon curbed hydropower output and supported cooling demand across the country.
• Coal-fired generation rose by 13pc on the year to 114.7TWh in July, the highest level recorded for the month and 8.4pc above the previous July record of 105.8TWh set in 2024, according to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data.
• India's coal output rose for a second month in July to meet strong summer power demand, sustaining a coal surplus, and dampening demand for seaborne coal.

By Andrew Jones