According to the vessel line-up data compiled by CoalMint Research, coal shipments exported from RBCT have increased 17% M-o-M to 7.39 MnT in Mar’19 compared with 6.33 MnT in Feb’19.
Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) is the major coal export terminal of South Africa, with a designed capacity of 91 MnT per annum. Most of the coal exported from South Africa is chiefly handled at RBCT.
In fact, RBCT had recorded 73.47 MnT coal exports in CY18.
Preliminary data from vessel line-up indicates that coal exports from RBCT had improved from the drastic fall in Jan’19, following a subdued pricing in the spot market.
At present, South African index price (API-4) was assessed at USD 70.50 as on 8 Apr’19, for Apr’19, which was nearly 28% lower from the average price of USD 98 noted last year.
South African coal market had witnessed a slack demand towards the end of the last year, as a result of the decline in coal intake from its major buyers-India and Pakistan.
However, in order to replenish their stock with South African material, Indian buyers have increased their purchasing.
During the first quarter of CY19 (Jan’19-Mar’19), coal shipments from RBCT have reached 18.9 MnT, out of which share from India was 8.96 MnT.
Major Coal Receivers in Mar’19:
Indian coal intake from RBCT doubled during the month accounting to 4.67 MnT in Mar’19. It is likely that demand from India will remain high as they begin coal stoking prior to the monsoon period.
Pakistan was the second-largest coal receiver from RBCT in Mar’19. However, coal volume taken by Pakistan had fell 27% M-o-M to 0.88 MnT in Mar’19.
South Korea emerged as the third-largest coal receiver, replacing UAE. Korean imports were 32% higher on the month, recorded at 0.4 MnT in Mar’19.
Source: CoalMint Research | Vessel Line-up data
Quantity in MnT
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