India has linked the decline in its coal imports to efforts to raise domestic output, improve availability, and strengthen supply chains in order to cut reliance on imported fuel, the Ministry of Coal said on November 1, 2026.

The decrease in overall imports, especially blending imports at domestic thermal plants, highlighted the need to bolster domestic production, transportation and supply-chain infrastructure, the ministry pointed out.

In figures reported for August 2026, India's coal imports stood at 104.57 million tonnes, 5.83% lower than 111.05 million in the same period a year earlier. The total reduction of 6.48 million tonnes indicated measures to raise domestic coal output, improve availability and fortify supply chains so as to lower dependence on imported fuel.

Coal imports by the power sector declined by 6.39% from the year-ago's 22.77 million tonnes to 21.32 million tonnes in August, data showed. Imports for blending at domestic coal-based power plants fell more sharply by 35.23% on the year to 3 million tonnes.

The ministry said this fall indicated lower blending import needs and aligned with efforts to raise domestic coal availability for power generation.

Coal imports by imported coal-based power plants, however, edged up 0.98% to 18.31 million tonnes. These plants are built mainly to run on imported coal.

Imported coal's share in India's total coal consumption also decreased to 19.30% in August from 21.20% in the same period last year, shrinking 1.90 percentage points.

Coking coal imports, mainly used by the steel industry, retreated by 4.18% from a year earlier to 27.30 million tonnes, the ministry said. Domestic coking coal availability remains constrained by the quality and characteristics of local reserves, requiring imports to meet the steel sector's needs.

The ministry said it remains focused on raising domestic production, improving coal transport infrastructure and tracking thermal power plant stocks.

It is also working with the Ministry of Railways, Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries to secure timely coal supplies for power plants, cut avoidable import dependence and support uninterrupted power generation.