[miningmx.com] — COAL exports from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) fell to 3.57 million tonnes in May from 4.8 million the previous month, RBCT data showed on Monday.
The figure compares with 4.57 million tonnes shipped in the same month last year.
The latest drop in monthly exports raises doubts about South Africa’s ability to raise its exports above the 63.43 million tonnes exported last year.
Rising demand from China and India has boosted interest for South African coal, but exports are still far below RBCT’s expanded capacity of 91 million tonnes, due to rail bottlenecks on the lines linking RBCT with the mines.
South African freight logistics group Transnet has said it would manage to rail 65 million tonnes this year, but derailments on the lines in recent months have raised doubts about that target.
RBCT exported 22.7 million tonnes of coal so far this year, compared with 23.9 million tonnes at the same time last year.
Stocks at the terminal stood at 4.41 million tonnes at the end of May.
