India Coal Briquettes HS2701 Import Data 2025 May Overview

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

India’s Coal Briquettes imports under HS Code 2701 in May 2025 reveal heavy reliance on Indonesia, which supplies 54.16% of volume but at lower unit prices ($0.27/kg), signaling cost-effective, lower-grade coal for bulk energy needs. The market shows strong geographic concentration, with Indonesia and South Africa dominating volume, while Russia, Australia, and the U.S. cater to higher-value industrial demand. Buyer behavior indicates potential supply chain risks due to over-dependence on a few key suppliers, urging diversification for stability. This analysis, covering May 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

India Coal Briquettes (HS 2701) 2025 May Import Background

What is HS Code 2701?

HS Code 2701 covers Coal; briquettes, ovoids, and similar solid fuels manufactured from coal, primarily used in power generation, steel production, and industrial heating. Its global demand remains stable due to its cost-effectiveness and reliability as an energy source, particularly in emerging economies. India’s reliance on this product underscores its role in meeting domestic energy and industrial needs.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In May 2025, India remained the top importer of HS Code 2701 coal briquettes, sourcing lower-grade coal from Indonesia at discounted rates to meet high-volume energy demands [ytrade.com]. New Indian Customs mandates, effective December 2024, require detailed declarations for ash content and calorific value, aiming to streamline imports and enhance data accuracy [taxtmi.com]. With India’s coal imports under HS 2701 rising 5.7% YoY in H1 2025, market vigilance is critical to navigate policy shifts and supply dynamics.

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

Key Observations

In May 2025, India's imports of Coal Briquettes under HS Code 2701 reached $3.02 billion with a volume of 5.96 billion kilograms, reflecting sustained high demand in the energy sector despite a monthly decline.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The import value fell by 4.7% month-over-month from April's $3.17 billion, while volume dropped sharply by 19.1% from 7.37 billion kg. This contraction is unusual given typical summer peaks in coal demand for power generation in India, often driven by cooling needs and industrial activity. The decrease suggests possible inventory drawdowns or short-term adjustments rather than a demand shift, as year-over-year data for H1 2025 shows a 5.7% growth in imports, indicating underlying strength in the market [gtaic.ai].

External Context and Outlook

The May dip aligns with new import declaration requirements enforced since December 2024, which mandate detailed reporting of ash content and calorific value for coal shipments, potentially causing temporary compliance delays and import volatility [taxtmi.com]. With India's heavy reliance on coal for energy and industrial output, imports are poised to rebound, supported by consistent sourcing from Indonesia and adaptive trade practices (ytrade.com). The outlook remains positive, driven by structural demand and policy stabilization.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, India's Coal Briquettes HS Code 2701 Import in 2025 May is heavily dominated by low-grade coal under sub-code 27011920, described as "Coal; (other than anthracite and bituminous), whether or not pulverised but not agglomerated", which holds over 85% of the weight share and 57% of the value share despite a low unit price of $0.34 per kilogram. This indicates a high-volume, cost-driven import strategy focused on bulk energy needs. An extreme price anomaly is present in sub-code 27011290, with a unit price of $1,295.38 per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its outlier nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining non-anomalous sub-codes fall into two clear categories based on grade: low-grade thermal coal (27011910 and 27011990) with unit prices around $1.56-$1.57 per kilogram, and higher-grade types like anthracite (27011100) and bituminous coal (27011210) with unit prices ranging from $0.23 to $0.80 per kilogram. This structure confirms a trade in fungible bulk commodities, where pricing is likely tied to global indices and calorific value, rather than significant value-added processing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For India Coal Briquettes HS Code 2701 Import 2025 May, the dominance of low-grade bulk imports limits pricing power for buyers, emphasizing cost efficiency over quality differentiation. [yTrade] notes India's role as a top importer, and new declaration requirements for ash content and calorific value (yTrade) may add compliance costs but reinforce the commodity nature, urging importers to focus on volume negotiations and supply reliability.

Check Detailed HS 2701 Breakdown

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

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In May 2025, India's import of Coal Briquettes under HS Code 2701 shows strong geographic concentration, with Indonesia as the dominant supplier. Indonesia accounts for 54.16% of the weight but only 29.44% of the value, indicating a lower unit price of around $0.27 per kg, which points to imports of lower-grade, cost-effective coal for bulk energy needs. This disparity highlights Indonesia's role in providing affordable fuel to meet India's high demand.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The partner countries form three clusters based on trade patterns. First, Indonesia and South Africa form a high-volume, lower-value cluster, supplying bulk thermal coal for power generation due to their proximity and competitive pricing. Second, Russia, Australia, and the United States represent a medium-volume, higher-value cluster, likely providing higher-grade or coking coal for industrial applications, driven by quality requirements. Third, low-volume countries like Mozambique and Kazakhstan serve as niche or backup suppliers, possibly due to logistical constraints or specialized coal types.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For market players, India's heavy reliance on Indonesia for Coal Briquettes imports under HS Code 2701 in 2025 May suggests a need to diversify sources to mitigate supply risks, such as geopolitical shifts or price volatility. The new import declaration requirements for ash content and calorific value, as noted in [TaxTMI], mean importers must prioritize compliance to avoid delays. Strategies should include securing diversified contracts and monitoring regulatory updates to ensure stable, cost-effective supply chains.

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

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

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

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Coal Briquettes Import 2025 May under HS Code 2701 is a bulk commodity trade dominated by low-grade thermal coal. Price is driven by global indices and calorific value, not product differentiation. High-volume buyers from industrial sectors create consistent demand but also supply chain vulnerability due to concentrated client reliance. Heavy dependence on Indonesia for over half of volume exposes the market to geopolitical and logistical risks, while new quality declaration rules add compliance complexity. This structure prioritizes cost efficiency and volume security over premium quality.

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

• Use HS Code 2701 sub-code data to track calorific value and ash content, ensuring compliance with new declaration rules and avoiding customs delays.
• Analyze buyer frequency patterns to negotiate long-term contracts with high-volume clients, securing stable revenue and reducing demand volatility.
• Monitor partner country data to diversify sources beyond Indonesia, mitigating supply risks from geopolitical shifts or price spikes.
• Leverage unit price comparisons across grades to optimize purchase mixes, balancing cost and quality for specific industrial applications.
• Implement real-time shipment tracking for high-frequency trade lanes, maintaining supply reliability and preventing inventory shortfalls during peak demand.

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 May?

The May 2025 decline in import volume (-19.1% MoM) reflects short-term adjustments, likely due to inventory drawdowns or compliance delays from new ash/calorific value reporting rules, despite underlying demand growth (5.7% YoY in H1 2025).

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

Indonesia dominates with 54.16% of weight share, followed by South Africa, Russia, Australia, and the U.S., forming distinct clusters for bulk thermal coal (low-cost) and higher-grade industrial coal.

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

Price gaps stem from grade differences: Indonesia’s low-grade coal averages $0.27/kg, while higher-grade sub-codes (e.g., anthracite at $0.80/kg) from Russia or Australia command premiums.

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

Prioritize volume negotiations with Indonesia for cost efficiency but diversify sources (e.g., Russia, Australia) to mitigate supply risks and comply with new quality declaration rules.

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

Suppliers like Indonesia benefit from stable high-volume demand, but niche players (e.g., Mozambique) face limited opportunities unless targeting specialized coal needs or backup contracts.

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

Low-grade imports (85% weight share) fuel bulk energy needs like power generation, while higher-grade coal supports industrial applications, reflecting India’s dual demand for cost and quality.