Page 73 - Policy & Economic Report - July 2025

POLICY AND ECONOMIC
ROEILPO&RGTAS MARKET

success of efforts to ramp up assured domestic supply and reduce reliance on the blending
mandate.
• Overall Import Dependence Narrows: Coal imports as a share of total coal consumption fell
from 21.69% in April 2025 to 19.68% in April 2026, a decline of over 2 percentage points.
• Coking Coal Imports Remain Steady: Coking coal imports, which cater primarily to the steel
sector where domestic coking coal reserves remain limited, rose marginally by 1.34% (5.93
MT to 6.01 MT), consistent with continued growth in domestic steel production and reflecting
that this category is driven by reSource: specific requirements rather than availability gaps.

The consistent decline across ICB, DCB and overall import categories reflects the Ministry of Coal's
sustained focus on ramping up domestic coal production and offtake, strengthening First Mile
Connectivity, close monitoring of thermal power plant stock positions, and coordinated efforts with
Ministry of Railways, Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries to ensure assured supply to power
utilities. These measures have progressively reduced the need for imported coal, including for
blending purposes, while maintaining healthy stock levels at thermal power plants across the country.
The Ministry of Coal remains committed to further strengthening domestic coal production,
evacuation infrastructure and quality-based grading to sustain this trend of reduced import
dependence in the coming months.

July 2026 20. Launch of Application for Registration of Coal Exchanges in India: Empowering India’s Coal Exchange
Ecosystem

The Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy in presence of Shri Satish Chandra Dubey,
Minister of State for Coal and Mines and Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, the Secretary, Ministry of Coal,
launched the Online Portal Application for Registration of Coal Exchanges, in New Delhi, during the
curtain raiser event for Indian Mining Week 2026. The launch marks India's transition from a policy
framework to operational readiness for Coal Exchanges, by inviting eligible applicants to formally
apply for registration under the regulatory oversight of the Authority – a landmark step towards
modernizing the country's coal market.

Coal Exchange, is an online platform where buyers and sellers of coal and its processed forms can
transact, trade and enter into delivery-based coal contracts as approved by the Authority. It enables
transparent market-based price discovery, assured quality through the Authority-approved coal
sampling agencies, advanced market surveillance, secured clearing and settlement process backed by
a settlement fund and an effective grievance redressal mechanism, thus creating a robust, neutral
and competitive platform that connects coal sellers, buyers and other market participants. The
introduction of Coal Exchanges marks a paradigm shift in the coal market by moving from the
traditional models to a modern trading platform.

The setting up of Coal Exchanges has been made possible through the Mines and Minerals
(Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2025, which introduced the concept of Mineral

Page | 72