Bulk exports marginally higher in April

Bulk exports rose by only 4.8% last year after a 6.8% gain in 2011 and a 9.0% jump in 2010. The change in the first four months of this year was just 0.5% y/y rise.

Bulk exports were up 9.2% y/y in the first nine months of last year before industrial action in the mining sector curtailed exports.

Exports from Richards Bay‚ which are mostly coal‚ rose by 6.0% y/y in April to 7.1Mt after rising by 5.2% last year to 80Mt for the year.

Exports out of Saldanha‚ which are mostly iron ore‚ fell by 5.6% y/y in April to 4.9Mt after increasing by 4.6% last year to 55.7Mt‚ while exports out of all other ports dropped by 4.1% y/y in April to 1.086Mt after gaining 3.4% last year to 12.6Mt for the year.