Coal Imports Drop 13% in April as Domestic Output Improves

India’s coal import bill shrank noticeably in April 2026. Total imports fell to 21.13 million tonnes, down from 24.27 million tonnes a year earlier – a reduction of about 12.95%.

The decline is linked to higher domestic production and better supply reliability, according to the ministry’s statement.

Power plants that previously depended heavily on imported coal cut their imports by 24.89%, moving from 4.67 million tonnes in April 2025 to 3.51 million tonnes in April 2026.

Plants entirely reliant on imported coal recorded the sharpest fall, with imports dropping from 3.97 million tonnes to 2.88 million tonnes – a 27.45% decrease.

Overall, the share of imported coal in total consumption slipped from 21.69% in April 2025 to 19.68% in April 2026, indicating a modest but steady reduction in import dependence.