India’s December Coal Output Beats Target as Fiscal-Year Production Lags

India’s coal production rose 3.6% year over year in December to 101.45 million tons, surpassing a government target of 87.06 million tons, according to The Hindu. Despite the strong December performance, output over the first nine months of the fiscal year edged down 0.64% to 721.65 million tons, with monsoon-related disruptions cited as a contributing factor. While coal is not directly traded like crude benchmarks, shifts in India’s coal balance can influence regional fuel switching and import demand, with potential knock-on effects for seaborne energy markets including Oil – Brent Crude, Oil – US Crude, and Natural Gas.

Over the past month, Oil – US Crude has advanced about 6.25%, reflecting tighter supply expectations and ongoing geopolitical risk; its 1-day technical reading stands at Buy, suggesting short-term momentum remains constructive. Oil – Brent Crude has gained roughly 6.88% in the same period, also supported by supply-side dynamics, and shows a 1-day technical signal of Buy. By contrast, Natural Gas has fallen about 18.88% over the last month amid ample supply and mild weather in key consuming regions, with its short-term technical indication at Sell, reflecting prevailing bearish pressure. Investors can explore more updates, prices, and analysis across global markets at Commodities.