South African iron ore exports in Jan’19 recorded at 7.05 MnT, up 28% as against 5.49 MnT in Dec’18. The exports picked up amidst resumption at Transnet (Transport Company), iron ore export channel post closure in Dec’18 due structural damage to railway line. This led to 10 days operation suspension at Transnet and subsequent force majeure by South African miner Kumba and Assmang. On yearly basis, the exports increased by 35% as compared to 5.23 MnT in Jan’18.
Transnet earlier in Dec’18 declared force majeure — unforeseeable circumstances that prevent a party from fulfilling a contract — on its railway operations contract with Kumba Iron Ore after a road accident closed the IOEC rail line.
China stood largest importer of South African ore in Jan’19. The exports to China witnessed at 3.73 MnT as against 3.6 MnT a month ago. The rise in sintering cuts in China rendered increased preference for lumps by Chinese mills. Netherland stood second largest importer at 0.84 MnT followed by South Korea at 0.56 MnT (up 40% M-o-M).
| South Africa Export January’19 | ||||||
| Commodity | Sub Commodity | Jan’19 | Dec’18 | M-o-M (%) | Jan’18 | Y-o-Y (%) |
| Iron Ore | Pellet/Concentrate | 4,440,712 | 3,790,528 | 17.2 | 3,106,051 | 43 |
| Fines/Lumps | 2,605,528 | 1,701,497 | 53.1 | 2,119,244 | 22.9 | |
| Total Iron Ore | 7,046,240 | 5,492,025 | 28.3 | 5,225,294 | 34.8 | |
| Coal | Bituminous Coal | 4,871,930 | 7,705,114 | -36.8 | 6,158,169 | -20.9 |
| Anthracite | 172,341 | 100,083 | 72.2 | 43,779 | 293.7 | |
| Others | 11,742 | 53,684 | -78.1 | 354,353 | -96.7 | |
| Pet Coke | 10,780 | 4,473 | 141 | 5,227 | 106.2 | |
| Met Coke | 9,326 | 15,614 | -40.3 | 10,813 | -13.8 | |
| Total Coal | 5,076,119 | 7,878,969 | -35.6 | 6,572,341 | -22.8 | |
| Ferro Alloy | Manganese Ore | 1,509,118 | 1,213,215 | 24.4 | 1,464,529 | 3 |
| Chrome Ore | 1,046,128 | 786,284 | 33 | 1,204,912 | -13.2 | |
| Ferro Chrome | 331,835 | 263,995 | 25.7 | 366,809 | -9.5 | |
| Ferro Manganese | 20,368 | 16,801 | 21.2 | 27,664 | -26.4 | |
| Ferro Silico Manganese | 12,930 | 11,905 | 8.6 | 19,490 | -33.7 | |
| Total Ferro Alloy | 2,920,378 | 2,292,200 | 27.4 | 3,083,403 | -5.3 | |
| Total Semi Finish | Pig Iron | 43,635 | 59,908 | -27.2 | 29,519 | 47.8 |
| Total Ferrous Scrap | – | 31,046 | 26,381 | 17.7 | 27,752 | 11.9 |
Quantity in MT
Source: South Africa Customs
Provisional Data
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