Bulk exports up but coal disappoints

Business Live reports that shipments out of Richards Bay, which are mostly coal, were disappointing with just a 1,4% rise to 76-million tons while iron ore shipments from Saldanha Bay increased by 12,3% to 53,3-million tons. Agriculture and manganese exports from Durban and Port Elizabeth increased by 18,7% to 12,2-million tons.

According to Business Live, Transnet says that part of the problem with coal exports from Richards Bay had been repeated levels of cable theft on the Mpumalanga-Richards Bay line, which had resulted in derailments and traffic disruptions, and routine maintenance work was also required.

For more:

• Business Live: 2011 bulk exports at record 141 million tons
  
• Transnet: Transnet National Ports Authority.