India’s Growing Coal Imports: Trends, Insights, and Key Players in 2024
India, one of the world's fastest-growing economies, is experiencing an ever-increasing demand for energy. Despite global efforts to transition toward cleaner energy, coal remains a cornerstone of India’s energy infrastructure. With the nation holding the fifth-largest coal reserves, its dependency on both domestic production and imports continues to rise. In this article, we explore the coal imports in India, analyze recent coal import data, examine the top coal importers in India, and share insights on global trade dynamics relevant to the Indian market. The Role of Coal in India's Energy Landscape Coal is still the backbone of India’s electricity generation. Although renewable energy is on the rise, coal-powered thermal plants produce over 70% of the country’s electricity. In 2023–24, India’s domestic coal production rose to 997.26 million metric tons , showing an 11.65% growth compared to the previous year. However, this increased output has not significantly reduced im...