South Africa: RBCT Coal Exports Rose Significantly in Mar’17

RBCT coal exports increased by 32% M-o-M as import demand from India gains momentum.

Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) is one of the world’s leading coal terminal located in South Africa.

The coal terminal handled 7.20 MnT coal shipments (including coal imports and exports) in Mar’17 which was 32% more than the quantity handled in Feb’17, according to the Vessel Line-up data maintained by CoalMint Research and Port data from RBCT.

About 7.03 MnT coal was exported while 0.17 MnT coal was imported to RBCT in Mar’17.

Quantities in MnT
Source: CoalMint Research

Coal Exports by RBCT:
South African thermal coal is one of the most preferred coal for power and sponge sector around the world.

In Mar’17, South African thermal coal was in demand in the Indian market as buyers looked to stock coal before the arrival of monsoon season. As a result coal exports from RBCT has increased by 32% M-o-M to 7.03 MnT in Mar’17 compared with 5.47 Mnt inFeb’17.

Major Export Destination from RBCT:
India remained the top coal importer from RBCT in Mar’17, as imports go up by 65% M-o-M to 3.10 MnT in Mar’17 compared with 1.88 MnT in Feb’17.

Pakistan second-largest coal importer from RBCT also recorded growth by 79% M-o-M.

While imports from all major coal importing countries increased over the month, Korea coal exports fell by 95%M-o-M to 0.01 MnT in Mar’17.

Coal Imports to RBCT:
Apart from exports of thermal coal South Africa also imports Coking coal and a fair amount of Met Coke and Pet Coke.

During Mar’17, Coal imports in RBCT rose by 31% M-o-M to 0.17 MnT compared with 0.13 MnT in Feb’17.

Total coal imports in Mar’17 comprises of 0.15 MnT of Coking coal and 0.01 MnT of Pet coke, which was shipped to RBCT.

Source: CoalMint Research