SA's bulk exports up by 5.4%
SA's bulk export volumes rose by 5.4% year-on-year (y/y) in March to 13.6m tons (Mt) - its highest level since the record 14.1Mt achieved in October 2011 - after increasing by 11.5% y/y in February to 11.9Mt and declining by 12.7% y/y in January to 11.8Mt‚ data from the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) showed on Tuesday (8 April).
Bulk exports rose by only 4.8% in 2012 after a 6.8% gain in 2011 and a 9.0% jump in 2010. The change in the first three months of 2013 reflected a 0.6% 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 out of Richards Bay‚ which are mostly coal‚ rose by 30.4% y/y in March to 8Mt after rising by 5.2% last year to 80Mt for the year.
Exports out of Saldanha‚ which are mostly iron ore‚ fell by 23.6% y/y in March to 4.5Mt after increasing by 4.6% last year to 55.7Mt‚ while exports out of all other ports jumped by 23.6% y/y in March to 1.044Mt after gaining 3.4% last year to 12.6Mt for the year.