India’s coal imports hit 5.52 MT in Aug, highest in a year

India witnessed its highest coal imports in over a year with 5.52 million metric tons in August 2026, up 85.6% from last year. With solar storage inadequate and hydropower output down, producers relied on pricier imported coal from Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa. El Niño-driven heat worsened demand, while rising global coal prices added further pressure on the energy sector.