India’s total coal imports declined by 5.83% in August 2026, falling to 104.57 million tonnes (MT) from 111.05 MT in August 2025, a reduction of 6.48 MT. The decline reflects the continued efforts of the Ministry of Coal to enhance domestic coal production, improve availability and strengthen the supply chain, with a view to reducing the country’s dependence on imported coal.
1. Coal Imports by the Power Sector Decline by 6.39%
Coal imports by power plants decreased by 6.39%, from 22.77 MT in August 2025 to 21.32 MT in August 2026. The decline is consistent with efforts to improve domestic coal availability and reduce dependence on imported coal for blending at domestic coal-based power plants.
2. Imports by Imported Coal-Based Power Plants Register a Marginal Increase
Coal imports by imported coal-based (ICB) power plants increased marginally by 0.98%, from 18.13 MT in August 2025 to 18.31 MT in August 2026. These plants are designed to operate primarily on imported coal.
3. Imports for Blending at Domestic Coal-Based Power Plants Decline by 35.23%
Coal imports for blending at domestic coal-based (DCB) power plants declined by 35.23%, from 4.64 MT in August 2025 to 3.00 MT in August 2026. This reduction indicates lower import requirements for blending and is consistent with efforts to improve the availability of domestic coal for power generation.
4. Share of Imports in Total Coal Consumption Declines
The share of imported coal in India’s total coal consumption decreased from 21.20% in August 2025 to 19.30% in August 2026, a decline of 1.90 percentage points. This reflects a reduction in the country’s reliance on imported coal during the month.
Coking coal imports decreased by 4.18%, from 28.49 MT in August 2025 to 27.30 MT in August 2026. Coking coal is an important input for the steel industry, and domestic availability remains constrained by the quality and characteristics of indigenous reserves. Import requirements in this category are therefore influenced by the specific raw material needs of the steel sector.
Sustained Efforts to Strengthen Domestic Coal Supply
The Ministry continues to focus on increasing domestic coal production and offtake, strengthening First Mile Connectivity (FMC), improving coal evacuation infrastructure and closely monitoring coal stock levels at thermal power plants.
Coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Railways, Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries are aimed at ensuring the timely and adequate supply of coal to power utilities. These measures are intended to improve the reliability of domestic coal supplies, reduce avoidable import dependence and support uninterrupted power generation across the country.
The decline in overall coal imports, particularly imports for blending at domestic coal-based power plants, underscores the importance of strengthening domestic production, transportation and supply-chain infrastructure. At the same time, imports by imported coal-based power plants and the steel sector continue to reflect their specific fuel and raw material requirements.
Ministry of Coal remains committed to further enhancing domestic coal production, improving evacuation capacity, strengthening supply-chain efficiency and promoting appropriate coal quality management to reduce import dependence wherever feasible, while ensuring reliable coal availability for the country’s power and industrial sectors.