India Relies on More Imports to Bridge the Gap

Overall coal production for 2012, meanwhile, stood at 557.5 million mt, Patil said, noting that general license coal may be imported at prevailing global prices through import duty payments. In 2012, India’s Planning Commission reported that coal imports would likely reach 185 million mt by 2017—nearly 20% of worldwide sales—further expanding the demand-supply deficit. This contrasts with the 137 million mt imported by Q4 2012, prompting calls for stepped up domestic production.