Indian power generators' thermal coal imports declined in September for the fourth straight month, reaching a new intra-year low for the third consecutive month, according to the latest official data.

Power producers imported 3.44 million tonnes of thermal coal in the month, down 1.55% month on month and 35.14% from a year ago, showed data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

Among all the coal imported by power companies in September, 2.99 million tonnes were directly burned, falling 30.3% year on year and 3.93% month on month, while 0.45 million tonnes were blended with domestic coal, slumping 55.75% on the year but up 18.14% from a month ago.

Among power utilities blending imported coal with domestic resources, four state-owned power enterprises imported 81,700 tonnes and four private enterprises imported 247,400 tonnes. Among those directing burning imported coal for power generation, one state-run utility imported 20,500 tonnes and 16 private ones received 2.97 million tonnes.

Mundra of Adani Group imported the largest amount of coal at 1.17 million tonnes, followed by EPGL-Salaya power plant owned by Essar Group, at 458,300 tonnes.

In the first six months of this fiscal year (ending March 2026), Indian power companies imported a total 26.21 million tonnes of thermal coal, down 27.05% from 35.93 million tonnes a year ago.