India's coal imports reached 149.8 million tons in the first eight months of 2026, showing an 8.1% decrease compared to the previous year. India, as the second-largest coal importer in the world after China, accounted for 17.3% of the global seaborne coal market during this period.
Details of India's Coal Imports
In 2023, India imported 240.8 million tons of coal, which was a 6.9% increase compared to the previous year. However, in 2024 and 2025, imports reached 236.7 and 238.2 million tons respectively, indicating relative stagnation in this industry. In the first eight months of 2026, however, this trend turned sharply negative, with imports decreasing by 8.1% to 149.8 million tons.
Read more: The Complex History of African Refineries: A Controversial Report from Gibson Tanker
During this period, 28% of coal shipments to India were loaded from Capesize vessels, 11% from Post-Panamax vessels, 47% from Panamaxes, and 14% from Supramaxes. 50% of the imported coal to India is delivered to the eastern shores of the country, particularly the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The state of Gujarat, which is the most industrially advanced state in India, accounts for 35% of the country's total coal imports.
Main Destinations and Changes in Trade Patterns
The most important coal import terminals in India include: Mundra Terminal in Gujarat with 16.7 million tons, Paradip with 15.7 million tons, Dhamra in Odisha with 14.7 million tons, and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh with 11.3 million tons in the first eight months of 2026.
Additionally, India's coal import trade patterns have been influenced by commercial and political factors. Indonesia, as the largest coal exporter to India, supplied 35.4% of total imports during this period, although the volume of exports from this country to India decreased by 18.8% to 53.0 million tons. In contrast, coal exports from Russia to India increased by 9.4% to a record 24.3 million tons, now comprising 16.2% of India's coal imports.
Exports from Australia to India reached 26.7 million tons in the first eight months of 2026, showing a decrease of 5.2%. While coal exports from the United States increased by 10.0% to 16.4 million tons, exports from Colombia sharply declined to 0.2 million tons. The volume of imported coal from Ukraine, which entered the market in 2025, has reached 0.15 million tons.
Read more: Need for Transparency in the National Oil Company’s Security Room · India Responded to New U.S. Oil Sanctions on Russia
