Demand for coal from India's cement sector rises in FY18-19

India’s coal demand increased 9.1 per cent YoY to 991.35Mta during the fiscal year ended March 2019, according to the country’s Coal Minister, Pralhad Joshi.

However, India’s supply shortfall more than doubled to 23.35Mt. This has been attributed to Coal India’s inability to meet demand from the cement and sponge iron industries. Demand from the cement sector surged 70 per cent to 37.22Mt in the FY18-19.

In the FY18-19 coal imports rose 12.9 per cent YoY to 235.24Mt from 208.27Mt. Mr Joshi also noted that domestic supplies advanced to 734.23Mt during the year.