India Coal Briquettes HS2701 Import Data 2025 August Overview

India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) 2025 August Import: Key Takeaways

India's Coal Briquettes (HS Code 2701) imports in August 2025 reveal a market dominated by Indonesia, which supplies over half the volume and higher-grade fuel at 0.11 USD/kg, while Australia and Russia offer cost-effective alternatives. The data highlights a clear geographic concentration, with Indonesia as the premium source, alongside emerging niche players like Mozambique. This analysis, covering August 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database. Importers must balance quality and cost, ensuring compliance with new declaration rules for ash content and calorific value. The market shows stable demand, with strategic diversification key to mitigating supply risks and optimizing pricing. Buyer behavior remains concentrated, reinforcing the need for strong supplier relationships.

India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) 2025 August Import Background

What is HS Code 2701?

HS Code 2701 covers coal; briquettes, ovoids, and similar solid fuels manufactured from coal, primarily used in energy generation and industrial processes. Its demand is driven by India's reliance on coal for power plants and manufacturing, ensuring stable global trade volumes. The product's versatility—from bituminous coal to processed briquettes—makes it a critical commodity for energy-intensive economies.

Current Context and Strategic Position

India's Coal Briquettes HS Code 2701 Import 2025 August dynamics are shaped by new import declaration requirements, mandating ash content and Gross Calorific Value (GCV) disclosures for clearance efficiency [taxtmi.com]. As the top importer of Indonesian coal under this code, India's strategic reliance reflects its energy needs, with imports hitting $2.15 billion from Russia and others in H1 2025 [gtaic.ai]. Vigilance on policy shifts and supply-chain risks remains essential for stakeholders.

India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) 2025 August Import: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In August 2025, India's import of Coal Briquettes under HS Code 2701 recorded an extreme value of 244.52 billion USD against a volume of 2.37 billion kg, starkly deviating from typical monthly patterns and suggesting a data anomaly rather than a genuine market movement.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The August value surged over 9,600% month-over-month from July's 2.51 billion USD, while volume fell 50% from 4.77 billion kg, indicating a severe price distortion inconsistent with coal's stable cost-sensitive demand cycles [ytrade.com]. Prior months showed steadier trends, with Q2 2025 averaging 3.05 billion USD monthly, aligning with seasonal energy demand peaks, but August's outlier overshadows any routine quarterly or annual comparisons.

External Context and Outlook

The implementation of new import declaration requirements from December 2024 [taxtmi.com] likely contributed to this reporting irregularity, as mandates for detailed quality parameters may have disrupted data consistency. Looking ahead, India Coal Briquettes HS Code 2701 Import 2025 August is expected to correct toward norms, supported by ongoing energy sector demand and policy adjustments to ensure accurate trade documentation (taxtmi.com).

India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) 2025 August Import: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, India's August 2025 import of Coal Briquettes under HS Code 2701 is overwhelmingly dominated by a single low-value bulk grade. Sub-code 27011920, described as coal other than anthracite or bituminous, holds a commanding 70% value share and 55% quantity share. Its unit price of just 105 US dollars per metric ton confirms its role as a high-volume, low-cost energy commodity, establishing this grade as the market's clear volume driver.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous imports form a clear quality and type hierarchy. The next largest segment consists of similar lower-grade coal (27011910 and 27011990), with unit prices between 84 and 91 dollars per ton, reinforcing the bulk commodity nature. A smaller tier of higher-quality coal exists, including bituminous (27011290) and anthracite (27011100), with anthracite priced significantly higher at 985 dollars per ton. This structure confirms that India’s import profile for HS Code 2701 is fundamentally a market for fungible bulk energy materials, not manufactured goods, with price primarily linked to calorific value and grade rather than brand or processing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For India Coal Briquettes HS Code 2701 Import 2025 August, this bulk-commodity structure means buyers hold pricing power and must focus on securing cost-advantaged volumes. Suppliers compete mainly on price and consistent quality specifications, not product differentiation. This is reinforced by India's new import regulations [taxtmi.com] mandating detailed ash and calorific value declarations, making precise grade compliance a key strategic requirement. Importers should prioritize relationships with large-volume producers who can reliably meet these standardized quality parameters.

Check Detailed HS 2701 Breakdown

India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) 2025 August Import: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India's coal briquettes HS code 2701 import in 2025 August is heavily concentrated, with Indonesia as the dominant supplier, accounting for over half the import value. Indonesia's value share (51.87%) exceeds its weight share (48.21%), indicating it provides higher-grade coal with a better unit price, around 0.11 USD/kg based on the data. This disparity suggests Indonesia is a key source for quality solid fuels.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import partners form three clear clusters. First, high-volume suppliers like Indonesia and Australia offer bulk, cost-effective coal, with Australia's lower value ratio hinting at more affordable options. Second, premium-grade sources such as South Africa and the United States show high value per weight, likely supplying superior coal for specific industrial needs. Third, emerging or niche players like Russia and Mozambique contribute smaller shares, possibly for diversification or lower-cost alternatives, as seen in Russia's high weight but low value ratio.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For importers, this geographic spread calls for a balanced strategy: maintain strong ties with Indonesia for reliable, high-quality supply while exploring cost-saving options from Australia and Russia. New import declaration requirements, effective December 2024, mandate detailed quality parameters like ash content and calorific value [taxtmi.com], so ensuring compliance is crucial to avoid delays. Diversifying sources can mitigate risks and leverage competitive pricing in India's coal briquettes market.

Table: India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) Top Partner Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) 2025 August Import: Action Plan for Coal Briquettes Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India Coal Briquettes Import 2025 August under HS Code 2701 is a high-volume bulk commodity market. Price is driven primarily by coal grade and calorific value, not brand or processing. Indonesia dominates as the key supplier of quality volume, while buyers are concentrated in high-frequency, high-value bulk purchases. This creates a price-sensitive environment where consistent quality compliance is critical due to new import regulations. The supply chain must prioritize securing cost-advantaged, specification-compliant volumes from reliable large-scale producers.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Coal Briquettes Market Execution

• Use real-time shipment data to monitor Indonesian supplier prices and volumes, ensuring you secure cost-advantaged contracts for bulk grade 27011920 coal. This maintains competitive pricing in a volume-driven market.
• Track high-frequency buyer purchase cycles to anticipate demand spikes and avoid inventory shortages or overstock. This aligns your supply with India’s dominant bulk procurement patterns.
• Analyze partner country data to diversify sources, adding Australian or Russian options for lower-cost volumes while retaining Indonesian quality. This mitigates geopolitical or supply disruption risks.
• Leverage HS code sub-category details to verify ash content and calorific value declarations for every shipment, ensuring full compliance with India’s new regulations. This prevents customs delays and rejection of non-compliant cargo.
• Monitor transaction patterns of low-frequency, high-value buyers to identify potential large tenders or strategic stockpiling opportunities. This captures niche premium demand without diverting focus from core volume operations.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Coal Briquettes Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in India Coal Briquettes Import 2025 August?

The extreme surge in August 2025 import value (9,600% month-over-month) is likely a data anomaly, not a genuine market shift, as volume fell 50% despite coal's typically stable demand cycles. New import declaration requirements may have disrupted reporting consistency.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this India Coal Briquettes Import 2025 August?

Indonesia dominates with 51.87% of import value, followed by Australia and South Africa. Indonesia’s higher value-to-weight ratio indicates it supplies superior-grade coal compared to bulk-focused partners like Australia.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across India Coal Briquettes Import 2025 August partner countries?

Price differences reflect coal grade hierarchy: low-cost bulk grades (e.g., sub-code 27011920 at $105/ton) dominate, while premium anthracite (27011100) commands $985/ton. Partner countries specialize in distinct quality tiers.

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Coal Briquettes?

Prioritize bulk buyers (72% of market value) for cost efficiency while ensuring compliance with new quality declarations. Diversify sources like Australia for affordability and Indonesia for reliable high-grade supply.

Q5. What does this India Coal Briquettes import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers must compete on price and grade consistency, as India’s market favors bulk commodities. Indonesia’s dominance offers stability, while niche players like Russia can target cost-sensitive segments.

Q6. How is Coal Briquettes typically used in this trade flow?

Imported coal briquettes serve as bulk energy commodities for power generation and industrial use, with price tied to calorific value rather than branding or processing.