Indian power generators' thermal coal imports in July fell to an intra-year low, down over 20% from June and the same month last year, according to official data.

Power producers imported 4.02 million tonnes of thermal coal in the month, down 21.03% month on month and 24.28% from a year ago, showed data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

Among all the coal imported by power companies in July, 3.34 million tonnes were directly burned, falling 15.17% year on year and 21.54% month on month, while 0.69 million tonnes were blended with domestic coal, slumping 50.27% on the year and down 18.46% from a month ago.

Among power utilities blending imported coal with domestic resources, five state-owned power enterprises imported 376,000 tonnes and three private enterprises imported 309,700 tonnes. Among those directing burning imported coal for power generation, one state-run utility imported 28,300 tonnes and 14 private ones received 3.31 million tonnes.

Mundra of Adani Group imported the largest amount of coal at 1.35 million tonnes, followed by Mundra owned by Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (CGPL), at 527,000 tonnes.

In the first four months of this fiscal year (ending March 2026), Indian power companies imported a total 19.28 million tonnes of thermal coal, down 22.21% from 24.79 million tonnes a year ago.