India's Import of US Coal Quadruples

India’s coal imports from North America quadrupled to 2.1 million tons in October from a year ago, the highest since at least January 2015, Thomson Reuters data showed, and buyers are looking to boost purchases amid a domestic shortage of the fuel. A ban on the use of petroleum coke, a dirtier but better-burning alternative to coal, is spurring expectations India will buy even more coal from the US in coming months, Reuters reported. Petcoke has been banned in some states around the Indian capital New Delhi that is battling heavy smog. But rising pollution in other Indian cities could lead to tougher restrictions such as a nationwide ban on the use and import of petcoke, with environmentalists requesting other states in the country to consider banning the use and import of the dirty fuel. Indian imports of North American coal stand at about 1.5 million tons from Nov. 1 to 20, ship tracking data on Thomson Reuters Eikon showed, already more than 70% of last month’s purchases.