Coal news and updates

South Africa’s coal export falls 2nd month running in May

June 09: The total coal export through South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) fell second month running in May largely on nil export to China and other Asian countries, except India, according to data made available to ICMW by one of the promoters of the terminal.

The export in May fell by 6.54% to 5,098,688 tons from 5,452,149 tons in April. The export in May 2013 stood at 4,342,370 tons.

The export would have been much lower during the month of May had India not came to rescue. In fact, India accounted for as much as 62% of the total coal export through the terminal.

Beside India, the export to Israel, Brazil and Pakistan also registered month-on-month rise even as there was decline in export to countries like Malaysia, Taiwan, UAE and ARA countries.

The total export during the first five months of 2014 through RBCT stood at 26,509,474 tons, up 23.31% as compared to 21,498,172 tons of coal exported through the terminal during the corresponding period of 2013.

Following are the details of monthly coal exports through RBCT in 2014 and 2013 (in tons):