Tata Steel imports coal in paperless transactions

It is the company’s first paperless import transaction under a letter of credit, backed by digital processes.
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FRANCIS MASCARENHAS
Tata Steel has executed its first import shipment of coal using an electronic bill of lading (eBL) — a digital version of the traditional paper document used in global shipping, with full bank integration.
The transaction involved coal imports from Queensland, Australia to Dhamra Port in Odisha.
It is Tata Steel’s first paperless import transaction under a letter of credit, fully backed by digital processes.
The transaction involved seamless coordination between Tata Steel India, ICICI Bank, TS Global Procurement, Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) and the digital platform provider ICE Digital Trade’s eBL solution.
By removing the need for physical courier services and paperwork, the new system significantly speeds up documentation, reduces risks and supports Tata Steel’s push towards digitisation and environmental sustainability.
As part of a sustainable supply chain, Tata Steel has already deployed emission-efficient vessels and increasingly using biofuels and LNG-powered ships for import shipments.
New Standard
Peeyush Gupta, Vice President — TQM, GSP & Supply Chain, Tata Steel, said by embracing eBL, the company has cut through traditional bottlenecks and set a new standard for how goods move globally.
It reflects the company’s commitment to build a supply chain that is not just efficient and secure, but also environmentally responsible, he said.
In April 2021, Tata Steel executed a first-ever blockchain-enabled paperless trade transaction involving steel export to a customer in UAE.
Later in the year in November, the company executed a blockchain-enabled paperless export order with a metals major in Bangladesh.
Published on July 11, 2025
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