Feb coal imports jump from year ago

But the purchases sank month-on-month on rising prices

Imports of thermal and coking coal jumped 31% in February from a year ago, as new power plants ramped up output, preliminary data from online trader mjunction showed, though purchases sank month-on-month on rising prices.

Shipments through the 31 coal-handling ports in India, which is about to unseat Japan as the world's second biggest coal importer after China, stood at 17.94 million tonne in February compared with 13.72 million tonne a year ago.

Imports in January this year, however, were much higher at 20.29 million tonne, compared with initial estimates of 15.79 million tonne, according to the data based on monitoring of vessels and information from shipping companies.

"Spot steam (thermal) coal prices remained volatile in the international markets during February while showing an increasing trend over the previous month," mjunction Chief Executive Officer Viresh Oberoi said in an email.

Prices of thermal coal for export from Australia's Newcastle port, Asia's benchmark, soared 30 percent in January and February to over $80 a tonne at the end of last month as major miners cut production, although prices have since fallen below $70 a tonne.

India imported 13.61 million tonne of thermal coal in February this year, 3.54 million tonne of coking coal and 138,499 tonne of metallurgical coke among other varieties.

Thermal coal is used for electricity generation in power plants while coking coal and metallurgical coke find use in steel making.