South African bulk exports rose by 5.6% in May to 14.5-million tons
SA's bulk export volumes rose 5.6% year on year (y/y) to 14.5-million tons (Mt) after a 12.6% y/y jump in April to 15.3 Mt, data from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) showed on Wednesday.
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The slowdown in May was in part due to the closure of the main coal export line for its annual maintenance for ten days.
The increase in the first five months of 2015 was 14.8% y/y compared with only a small 2.6% gain in 2014.
The year started with a bang as bulk exports surged by 34.1% y/y in January to a record monthly total of 16.4 Mt before slowing to a 16.4% y/y increase in February and a 6.3% y/y rise in March.
As Richards Bay Coal Terminal no longer releases operational statistics, economists are finding it more difficult to track economic performance in SA timeously.
Source: BDpro