India's SAIL to import trial coking coal cargo from Mongolia
- alexhskinner
- Jun 1
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 3
India's state-run Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) is planning to import a trial shipment of 1 metric ton of coking coal from Mongolia this month as part of its effort to diversify away from heavy dependence on Australian supplies. Depending on the quality results of this initial trial, SAIL may follow with a larger 75,000 metric ton shipment. To speed up testing, the trial cargo may be flown in or routed via China depending on logistics.
India, the world’s second-largest steel producer, imports about 85% of its coking coal, with over half coming from Australia. Seeking alternative sources, India is exploring Mongolia due to its competitive pricing and sizable reserves, though Mongolia’s landlocked geography and limited infrastructure present challenges. Other Indian steel companies, such as JSW Steel, have faced sourcing difficulties from Mongolia as well. Broader diversification efforts include sourcing from Mozambique, Russia, the U.S., Canada, and Indonesia.
