India’s Coal Imports Drop Significantly in April 2026
India’s coal import numbers have seen a notable decrease in April 2026, falling to 21.13 million tonnes (MT) from 24.27 MT in the same month last year. This significant reduction of 3.14 MT—roughly 12.95%—illustrates the effective strategies implemented by the Ministry of Coal to enhance domestic coal production and minimize reliance on imports, especially in the power sector.
Power Sector Reduces Coal Imports
A substantial drop has been observed in coal imports by power plants, plummeting by 24.89% from 4.67 MT in April 2025 to just 3.51 MT in April 2026. This decline can be attributed to improved supply linkages within the country, allowing power plants to lessen their dependence on imported coal for blending.
Significant Reductions Across Import Categories
Plants primarily operating on imported coal have also reported a sharp decline in imports, which fell by 27.45% from 3.97 MT to 2.88 MT. This category experienced the most dramatic decrease among all tracked segments. In addition, coal imports for blending by domestic plants have decreased by 11.26%, moving from 0.71 MT to 0.63 MT. These trends highlight the successful initiatives aimed at bolstering domestic coal supplies and decreasing the need for blending.
Overall Import Dependence Declines
The overall dependence on coal imports as a percentage of total coal consumption has shrunk from 21.69% in April 2025 to 19.68% in April 2026, marking a reduction of more than 2 percentage points. Yet, imports of coking coal, essential for the steel industry and with limited domestic reserves, experienced a slight increase of 1.34%, rising from 5.93 MT to 6.01 MT. This rise aligns with ongoing growth in domestic steel production, driven more by specific resource requirements than by any shortages.
Commitment to Domestic Production
The continuous decline in coal imports across various categories reflects the Ministry of Coal’s unwavering commitment to elevating domestic coal output. This includes enhancing First Mile Connectivity and meticulously monitoring stock levels at thermal power plants. The ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways and Coal India Limited (CIL), is striving to ensure a stable supply for power utilities while maintaining adequate stock levels nationwide. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Coal is dedicated to further improving domestic coal production, evacuation infrastructure, and quality assurance to sustain this downward trajectory of import reliance in the months to come.
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