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Raw materials

Import coal

2.5% basic duty, 18% IGST, compulsory CIMS registration. India imported about US$ 26.7 billion of coal in FY 2025-26.

Free, with conditionsHS 2701
Basic customs duty
2.5%
2.5%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
18%
18%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 26.7 bn
from 26 countries

The tariff rate for all lines of 2701 was 5%; S. No. 86 of notification 45/2025-Customs lowered it to 2.5%, and the Finance Bill 2026 made 2.5% the tariff rate from 1 May 2026 (that S. No. was then omitted by 2/2026-Customs). Coal moved to the 18% IGST schedule from 22 Sep 2025 (notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), Schedule II). Check the full duty on ICEGATE before you price. AIDC 1.5% on 2701 under notification 11/2021-Customs as first issued — confirm whether it still applies on ICEGATE. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended ↗

What is imported

Steel plants import coking coal, and power plants, cement, sponge iron and other industries import steam coal. Imports under 2701 were about US$ 26.7 billion in FY 2025-26, down from US$ 29.5 billion (TradeStat). Australia and Indonesia each supplied about 23%, followed by Russia, the USA and South Africa. Smaller traders usually buy from these importers at the port rather than importing whole vessels.

Import policy · Free, with conditions

Free, subject to compulsory advance registration of each consignment on the Coal Import Monitoring System (CIMS) run by DGFT and the Ministry of Coal.

Licences and registrations you need

  • DGFT / Ministry of Coal (CIMS)Online registration of each consignment on CIMS before arrival; the registration number goes on the bill of entry.imports.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Customs checks the CIMS registration number and the quantity against the draft survey at discharge.
  • Classification between coking and steam coal is checked against the test report (ash, volatile matter, calorific value).
  • Quality is usually checked by an independent surveyor at load and discharge ports for price adjustment.

Practical tips

  • Buy against a written specification (GCV, ash, moisture, sulphur) with price adjustments for each parameter.
  • Register on CIMS early; the system lets you register only within a set window before arrival.
  • First-time buyers can start with port-based purchases from an established importer.

Where new importers go wrong

  • A vessel arriving without CIMS registration — the bill of entry cannot be filed.
  • Coal with higher moisture or ash than contracted and no price-adjustment clause.
Sources (9)
  1. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended
  2. Notification 2/2026-Customs (Budget amendments to 45/2025-Customs), 1 Feb 2026
  3. Finance Bill 2026 — Fifth Schedule (tariff rates from 1 May 2026)
  4. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025)
  5. Notification 11/2021-Customs — Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (as first issued)
  6. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), 17 Sep 2025 (IGST rates from 22 Sep 2025)
  7. Coal Import Monitoring System (CIMS)
  8. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)
  9. ICEGATE — Customs duty and tariff look-up

Import data

Where India buys coal

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 26.7 bn
Change from 2024-25
-9.5%
Supplying countries
26
Biggest supplier
Australia
23%
Australia: US$ 6.22 bnIndonesia: US$ 6.17 bnRussia: US$ 3.44 bnUnited States of America: US$ 3.27 bnSouth Africa: US$ 2.86 bnSingapore: US$ 1.97 bnMozambique: US$ 1.22 bnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 762 mnCanada: US$ 277 mnSwitzerland: US$ 178 mnColombia: US$ 138 mnNew Zealand: US$ 63.2 mnHong Kong: US$ 47.9 mnTanzania: US$ 44.9 mnChina: US$ 35.1 mnAustralia: US$ 6.22 bnAustraliaIndonesia: US$ 6.17 bnIndonesiaRussia: US$ 3.44 bnRussiaUnited States of America: US$ 3.27 bnUnited States of AmericaSouth Africa: US$ 2.86 bnSouth AfricaSingapore: US$ 1.97 bnSingaporeMozambique: US$ 1.22 bnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 762 mnCanada: US$ 277 mnSwitzerland: US$ 178 mnColombia: US$ 138 mnNew Zealand: US$ 63.2 mnHong Kong: US$ 47.9 mnTanzania: US$ 44.9 mnChina: US$ 35.1 mnIndia
Where India imports coal from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 15.7 bn16k2020-212021-22: US$ 30.6 bn31k2021-222022-23: US$ 48 bn48k2022-232023-24: US$ 37.5 bn37k2023-242024-25: US$ 29.5 bn30k2024-252025-26: US$ 26.7 bn27k2025-26
India’s coal imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1AustraliaUS$ 6.22 bn-9.1%
2IndonesiaUS$ 6.17 bn-21.2%
3RussiaUS$ 3.44 bn+2.5%
4United States of AmericaUS$ 3.27 bn-2.3%
5South AfricaUS$ 2.86 bn-12.3%
6SingaporeUS$ 1.97 bn+2.9%
7MozambiqueUS$ 1.22 bn+8.3%
8United Arab EmiratesUS$ 762 mn+46.7%
9CanadaUS$ 277 mn-33.6%
10SwitzerlandUS$ 178 mn-43.3%
11ColombiaUS$ 138 mn-50.7%
12New ZealandUS$ 63.2 mn+29.4%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 520 mn → US$ 762 mn+46.7%

Shrinking sources

  1. ColombiaUS$ 279 mn → US$ 138 mn-50.7%
  2. SwitzerlandUS$ 313 mn → US$ 178 mn-43.3%
  3. CanadaUS$ 417 mn → US$ 277 mn-33.6%
  4. IndonesiaUS$ 7.83 bn → US$ 6.17 bn-21.2%
  5. South AfricaUS$ 3.26 bn → US$ 2.86 bn-12.3%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Coal,, whether or not pulverised but not agglomerated — coking coal2701 19 10US$ 11.8 bn-3.2%66.08 mn tonnesUS$ 0.18 per kg
Coal,, whether or not pulverised but not agglomerated — steam coal2701 19 20US$ 11.7 bn-16.8%156.07 mn tonnesUS$ 0.07 per kg
Other coal whether or not pulvrsd but ntagldmrtd2701 19 90US$ 2.8 bn-0%20.13 mn tonnesUS$ 0.14 per kg
Anthrcite coal whether or not pulvrsd but not aglomrtd2701 11 00US$ 255 mn-15.9%1.86 mn tonnesUS$ 0.14 per kg
Coal, bituminous, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated — bituminous coal : other2701 12 90US$ 212 mn+5%1.99 mn tonnesUS$ 0.11 per kg
Bituminous coal : coking coal2701 12 10US$ 31.3 mn-58.5%2,47,502 tonnesUS$ 0.13 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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