SA’s bulk export volumes rose 9.5% year on year in November to the third-highest monthly total of 16.21-million tonnes, data from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) showed on Wednesday. The record monthly tonnage of 16.4-million tonnes was achieved in January 2015 and the April 2016 total of 16.22-million tonnes was marginally more than the November 2016 figure. The 15.4% annual drop in July to 11.6-million tonnes was in part due to the closure of the coal line between Mpumalanga and Richards Bay for the annual maintenance period between July 11 and July 24. On average, 230,000 tonnes per day is railed down the corridor, but export orders can be filled from the stockpile at Richards Bay Coal Terminal during the maintenance period. The maintenance is normally carried out in May, but shifted to July this year at the request of coal miners, as overseas coal demand was seasonally weak due to the northern hemisphere summer. The June and April annual increases of 3.4% and 6.2% w...
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