India coal supply and import trends

In late 2026, India reported a stabilization of coal stocks at domestic thermal power plants. Following a period of depletion in September, inventories remained above 18 million tonnes in early October. This stabilization was driven by increased daily coal supplies and improved railway logistics, with average daily rake loading rising to 469 per day.

Data from August 2026 indicated a year-on-year decrease in total coal imports, falling 5.83 percent to 104.57 million tonnes. This decline is attributed to efforts to boost domestic production and enhance supply chain infrastructure. While imports for blending at domestic plants saw a significant drop of 35.23 percent, imports for imported coal-based power plants saw a marginal increase. Overall, the share of imported coal in total consumption decreased to 19.30 percent.

In October 2026, Coal India Limited (CIL) reported record-breaking operational milestones. The state-owned miner achieved its highest-ever monthly coal supply of 70.3 million tonnes, representing a 19 percent increase compared to the previous year. Total coal production also reached a historic high of 67.2 million tonnes.

Supplies to the power sector reached 57.1 million tonnes during the month, up 19 percent year-on-year. This surge in domestic output occurred alongside rising energy demands, as power consumption grew by 21.88 percent to 159.76 billion units in October, driven by industrial demand and festival season activities.