SA coal exports to India double

[miningmx.com] — South Africa shipped 2.1 million tonnes of thermal coal to India in July, almost double June’s 1.2 million tonnes, exporters said.

China’s South African coal imports also rose to 1 million tonnes in July from 720 000 tonnes in June.

Asian demand from India, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan for South African coal has soared during the past 12 months, more than compensating for weak European buying.

India accounted for 35% of South Africa’s total July exports of 5.9 million tonnes and has taken an average of 34% for 2010 so far.