RBCT Coal Exports Rise In March .

South Africa's coal exports rose to 5,36-million tons in March from 4,57-million tons the previous month, Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) data showed on Wednesday.

The figure compares with 5,66-million tons shipped in the same month last year.

South Africa exported a total of 63,43-million tons of coal last year, boosted by demand from China and India, but far below RBCT's expanded capacity of 91-million tons.

Coal exports have been hampered by 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 tons this year, but derailments on the lines in recent months have raised doubts about that target.

RBCT exported 14,32-million tons of coal so far this year, compared with 15,46-million tons at the same time last year.

The latest derailment lost around 500 000 t of export coal, industry sources said last week, and shut two of the rail lines. One of the lines has since been reopened, but repairs on the other were ongoing.

Stocks at the terminal were at 3,08-million tons at the end of March this year, RBCT said.

Source : miningweekly.com