[miningmx.com] – TRANSNET Freight Rail (TFR), a division of state-owned logistics and transport group Transnet, delivered just over 500,000 tonnes more coal to Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) in July than in June.
Data released by RBCT showed that some 6.07 million tonnes (Mt) was delivered to RBCT in July compared to 5.48Mt in June. The terminal shipped 6.28Mt of coal in July compared to 5.45Mt in June, a 15% improvement.
Coal stocks at the terminal fell to 2.85Mt at the end of July from 2.91Mt in June. The annualised shipped rate from RBCT increased to 65.7Mt from 64.3Mt in June.
Despite the month-on-month improvement in deliveries, however, the tonnage falls short of forecasts by TFR CEO, Siyabonga Gama, who said 7.7 million tonnes in deliveries for July was the target. Gama had been speaking at the annual results of Transnet.
Annualised deliveries to the terminal increased to 67Mt following a 10-day maintenance shutdown in May and June. TFR is aiming for full-year total deliveries to RBCT of 73Mt to 75Mt. Transnet’s year end concludes March 31, 2013.
Some 777 trains made the journey to Richards Bay in July compared to 725 trains in June.
Meanwhile, coal prices at Richards Bay increased to their highest level in more than four months, according to Bloomberg News, a newswire.
Coal for immediate delivery increased US$2.90 per tonne or 3.4% to US$88.52/t free on board, said Bloomberg News, citing a report by IHS McCloskey. This represents the highest level in coal prices from RBCT since July 6.
