Russian coal exports to India rise 8.6% in Jan-Aug 2026

Russian coal exports to India increased in January-August 2026 despite a decline in India’s overall coal imports, lifting Russia’s share of the country’s import market.

In January-August 2026, Russian coal exports to India totaled 21.4 mio t (+1.7 mio t or +8.6% y-o-y).

In August 2026, Russian supplies to India dropped to 3.3 mio t (-8.3% m-o-m). Russian deliveries to India are expected to decline further in September–December 2026 because of the suspension of sea shipments via ports in the Azov–Black Sea basin, following attacks by Ukrainian drones on civilian merchant vessels, that has already contributed to a rise in global prices.

In January-August India’s total coal imports plunged to 161.6 mio t (-9.8 mio t or -5.7%, y-o-y).

Russia accounted for 13.2% of India’s coal imports, up 1.7 percentage points y-o-y.

Indonesia, India’s largest coal supplier, reduced exports to 62.2 mio t (-5.2 mio t or -7.7% y-o-y). Australian shipments totaled 21.1 mio t (-2.8 mio t or -11.7% y-o-y). South Africa exported 19.9 mio t (-2.9 mio t or -12.7% y-o-y). The US increased deliveries to 16.9 mio t (+1.8 mio t or +11.9% y-o-y).

Coal remains the primary source of electricity in India, accounting for around 75% of the country’s power generation. India ranks second globally in coal-fired generation after China. By 2036, India plans to expand its coal-fired power capacity by 38% to 315 GW, up from 228 GW in 2026.

Source: CCA