India's August Coal Imports Drop Nearly 6% as Domestic Output Rises

India's coal imports fell 5.83% in August 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier. The country brought in 104.57 million tonnes of coal, down from 111.05 million tonnes last year. Imports by domestic coal‑based power plants, which blend imported coal with local stock, plunged 35.23% to just 3 million tonnes. In contrast, thermal power plants that rely solely on imported coal saw a modest rise of about 1%, importing 18.31 million tonnes. Overall, coal bought by the power sector slipped roughly 6.4%. The share of imported coal in total Indian consumption dropped to 19.3% in August, lower than the 21.2% recorded a year ago. ## Coking Coal Coking coal imports, vital for steel making, declined about 4.2% to 27.3 million tonnes during the same period. India still sources about 95% of its coking‑coal needs through imports, so steel‑sector demand drives these numbers. ## Context India has been pushing to boost domestic coal mining and improve transport links to cut reliance on foreign supply. The Union Coal Ministry said the fall in imports, especially for blending at domestic‑coal power plants, highlights the need for stronger domestic production and supply‑chain infrastructure.