By Jacqueline Cowhig
LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) – South Africa exported 4.6
million tonnes of thermal coal in May with Asia including India
taking 3.6 million tonnes and the rest going to Atlantic
markets, exporters said.
India imported 1.4 million tonnes of coal from South
Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), down from 1.6
million in April.
Almost all of South Africa’s exports are shipped from RBCT
which is owned by exporters including BHP Billiton,
Xstrata, Anglo American, Glencore and
Exxaro.
China, a growing market for South African coal, took 1.4
million tonnes in May, up from 810,000 tonnes in the previous
month.
Of the 1 million tonnes shipped to the Atlantic, around
190,000 tonnes went to Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp, Europe’s
main coal importing hub.
“We’re relieved not to have China exposure at the moment,
with all problems that has, but there’s been some Indian spot
business and it’s getting close to being able to ship into
Europe,” one producer source said.
Continued…
