Tata Steel buys coal from Russia weeks after vowing to cut ties

Jun 21, 2022

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NEW DELHI: India’s high steelmaker Tata Metal imported about 75,000 tonnes of coal from Russia within the second half of Might, two commerce sources and one authorities supply stated, weeks after pledging to cease doing enterprise with Russia.
Tata Metal had stated in April all its manufacturing websites in India, the UK and the Netherlands had sourced various provides of uncooked supplies to finish its dependence on Russia, including it was taking “a aware determination to cease doing enterprise with Russia.”
Nonetheless, in Might, Tata Metal shipped about 75,000 tonnes of PCI coal, utilized in steelmaking, from Russia’s Vanino port, out of which 42,000 tonnes had been offloaded in a port in Paradip on Might 18 and 32,500 tonnes in Haldia, stated the 2 commerce sources who wished to stay nameless as they weren’t licensed to talk on the matter.
A spokesman for Tata Metal stated the deal to import coal from Russia was made earlier than the corporate’s announcement to chop enterprise ties with Russia, with out offering additional particulars.
“There was no different PCI Coal buy by Tata Metal from Russia after the announcement,” the spokesman stated in an emailed assertion to Reuters.
India has avoided condemning Russia – with which it has longstanding political ties – over what Moscow describes as its “particular operations” in Ukraine. India has as a substitute defended its buy of Russian items as a bid to diversify provides and argues {that a} sudden halt would enhance costs and damage customers.
Tata Metal was the one main steelmaker to announce it will cease doing enterprise with Russia. Different Indian steelmakers have been importing bulk portions of coal from Russia, commerce knowledge reviewed by Reuters confirmed.
The PCI coal was imported in a vessel named Panamax Ostria, the commerce sources stated. The federal government supply confirmed Tata Metal had imported 75,000 tonnes of coal from Russia in Might, however didn’t give extra particulars.
Particulars on Tata Metal’s Russian coal imports haven’t been beforehand reported.
Purchases of Russian coal by Indian consumers together with steelmakers have spiked in latest weeks regardless of Western sanctions on Moscow, as merchants provide reductions of as much as 30%, Reuters reported on Saturday.
Low-cost coal provides are particularly essential to Indian steelmakers now, as they’re reeling from export duties imposed by the Indian authorities final month to curb native inflation.
The Nifty metals index has fallen over 20% because the determination to levy export taxes on Might 21, with Tata Metal falling about 26%, JSW Metal declining 12% and Jindal Metal and Energy’s shares dropping 21% of their worth because the announcement.



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