In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, thermal coal imports at the 12 major ports of India saw a 30.46 per cent drop to 7.8 million tons ( MT) in the first month of the current fiscal year, as per the port body IPA.
These center-owned ports had handled 11,27 MT of thermal coal during the same month of 2018-19.
The Indian Ports Association (IPA), which maintains the cargo data handled by these 12 ports, at its latest.
The report stated that the "percentage variation from the previous year" in thermal coal handling was 30.46 per cent.
Imports of coking and other coal decreased by 17.07 per cent to 4.27 MT during the month. These ports had handled 5.15 MT of coking coal in the corresponding month of the last fiscal year.
Thermal coal is the mainstay of India's energy program, as 70% of electricity generation depends on dry fuel, while coking coal is mainly used for steel production.
India is the third largest producer of coal after China and the US and has 299 billion tons of resources
And 123 billion tons of proven reserves, which could last for more than 100 years.
India has 12 major ports - Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai,
Kamarajar (Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia), which handle approximately 61% of the country's total freight traffic.
These ports registered a 21% decrease in cargo volumes to 47,42 MT in April of this year, mainly due to coronavirus outbreaks.
Ports like JNPT, Chennai, Cochin and Kamrajar have seen a huge decline in cargo handling, according to the latest data.
Chennai Port saw a massive 38.17% drop in cargo handling to 2.44 MT and JNPT by 33.97% to 3.95 MT in April.
Cargo handling at Cochin port slipped by 33.73 per cent to 1.87 MT, and Kamrajar Port by 30.03 per cent to 2.08 MT, the data showed.
Container trade was severely affected, with a decrease of 36.98 per cent in terms of TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) followed by a decrease of 30.46 per cent in thermal coal.
Rating Agency Icra said last week that while all segments of freight are vulnerable, the container segment is expected to be more adversely affected.
It stated that while the general transit of freight may be subject to 5-8% contraction for the full year 2020-21, the container segment may experience a decrease of 12-15% over the same period.
These major ports had handled 705 MT of cargo in the last fiscal year.
