India's coal production in May 2026 rebounded from the previous month but remained well below year-ago levels, with the year-on-year decline approaching 10%, preliminary data from the coal ministry showed.

Total coal output reached 78.13 million tonnes in May, down 9.51% from 86.34 million tonnes a year earlier but up 5.13% from 74.31 million tonnes in April.

Coal India Ltd (CIL) produced 56.13 million tonnes, down 11.59% year on year but up 0.12% month on month. Singareni Collieries Co Ltd (SCCL) output fell 22.51% year on year to 4.51 million tonnes, but rose 11.63% from a month ago. Production from captive and other mines totaled 17.49 million tonnes, up 2.7% year on year and 23% from the prior month.

Coal sales in May reached 92.02 million tonnes, up 3.35% from the same period last year.

CIL sold 67.67 million tonnes, up 3.74% year on year. SCCL sales fell 6.17% to 5.43 million tonnes, while captive and other mines sold 18.93 million tonnes, up 4.99%.

Sales to the power sector totaled 73.56 million tonnes in May, up 1.22% year on year, accounting for 80% of total sales. Sales to the steel sector fell 39.41% to 1.22 million tonnes, while sales to the cement sector slipped 0.24% to 900,000 tonnes.

For the fiscal year to date (April-May 2026), India's total coal output was 152 million tonnes, down 9.48% year on year. CIL output fell 10.64% to 112 million tonnes, SCCL output dropped 21.92% to 8.44 million tonnes, and captive and other mines output edged down 0.72% to 31.71 million tonnes.

Cumulative coal sales for the fiscal year to date stood at 178 million tonnes, up 0.91% year on year. CIL sales rose 1.69% to 132 million tonnes, SCCL sales fell 7.9% to 10.67 million tonnes, while captive and other mines sales increased 0.91% to 35.65 million tonnes.