India's coal imports dropped 4.2 percent to 213.10 million tonnes during April-January, signaling the country's strategic shift toward self-reliance in coal production. Non-coking coal imports fell to 127.80 MT from 141.18 MT year-over-year, while coking coal imports rose to 50.39 MT. Rising seaborne coal prices and supply constraints are expected to keep imports subdued in the near term. The government targets domestic coal production growth of 6-7 percent annually to reach 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30, reducing dependence on imports while meeting surging energy demands. This reflects India's broader energy independence strategy amid global geopolitical tensions affecting commodity markets.
