Coal exports from South Africa have been steadily recovering over the past few years and 2025 was no exception. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that “global coal trade lost momentum in 2025, easing after a strong rebound the previous year that that had brought activity back to pre-Covid levels. In Jan-Dec 2025, global coal loadings decreased by -2.9% y-o-y to 1331.8 mln t, from 1371.8 mln t in the year 2024, based on vessel tracking data from AXS Marine. In Jan-Dec 2025, exports from Indonesia decreased by -7.2% y-o-y to 494.7 mln t, and from Australia were down by -0.6% y-o-y to 354.0 mln t. From Russia exports increased by +6.7% y-o-y to 173.0 mln t in Jan-Dec 2025, from the USA decreased by -10.3% y-o-y to 81.3 mln t, and from South Africa were up by +4.1% y-o-y to 64.6 mln t. Shipments from Canada decreased by -2.7% y-o-y to 47.9 mln t in Jan-Dec 2025, from Colombia declined by -14.9% y-o-y to 47.6 mln t, and from Mozambique down by -2.7% y-o-y to 20.7 mln t”.

According to the shipbroker’s data, “seaborne coal imports in Mainland China decreased by -11.1% y-o-y to 379.7 mln t, to down by -5.6% y-o-y to 223.2 mln t, and to Japan fell by -3.7% y-o-y to 151.3 mln t. Shipments to South Korea declined by -3.2% y-o-y to 106.7 mln t, to the EU down -1.5% y-o-y to 63.7 mln tonnes, to Vietnam decreased by -0.3% y-o-y to 56.3 mln t, and to Taiwan declined by -5.7% y-o-y to 52.7 mln tonnes”.

Source: Banchero Costa

“South Africa is the world’s fifth largest seaborne exporter of coal, after Indonesia, Australia, Russia, and the USA. It accounted for 4.9% of global exports in 2025. Export volumes from South Africa had steadily declined in the past decade, as it was penalized by declining coal demand in the Atlantic basin, the country’s distance from the more resilient East Asian markets, as well as limitations on output and railway and port capacity”, the shipbroker noted.

Banchero Costa added that “essentially all coal exports from South Africa are loaded at Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, on the eastern coast of the country. Richards Bay has the deepest natural harbour on the African continent. Exports had peaked from South Africa at 75.4 mln tonnes in 2019, but declined to 72.1 mln tonnes in 2020, (-4.3 y-o-y), 63.7 mln tonnes in 2021 (-11.7% y-o-y), and 60.6 mln tonnes in 2022 (-4.9% y-o-y). Volumes have since shown steady recovery over the past four years, driven by incremental Transnet Freight Rail improvements, and strong global demand. Total seaborne coal exports from South Africa were up +2.2% y-o-y in 2024 reaching 62.1 mln tonnes, 0.4% y-o-y from 60.8 mln tonnes in 2023, -4.9% y-o-y from 60.6 mln tonnes in 2022, according to AXS Marine vessel tracking data”.

Source: Banchero Costa

“Last year volumes continued to increase. In the year 2025, South Africa exported 64.6 mln tonnes of coal, up by +4.1% y-o-y. About 33.4% of coal exports from South Africa in Jan-Dec 2025 were carried in Capesizes, about 11.7% were carried in Post-Panamaxes, about 32.8% were carried in Panamaxes, about 20.6% were carried in Supramaxes, and about 1.5% in Handys. Over the last few years there have been significant reshuffles in terms of trade patterns. India remains the top destination for South African coal, accounting for 47.9% of S. African exports in JanDec 2025. India imports increased by +2.3% y-o-y to 31.1 mln tonnes in Jan-Dec 2025. In Jan-Dec 2025, shipments to Pakistan increased +58.8% y-o-y to 4.9 mln t, whilst to the European Union increased by +11.5% y-o-y to 4.1 mln tonnes. Shipments from South Africa to South Korea declined by -48.2% y-o-y in 2025 to 3.0 mln t, -3.0% y-o-y from 5.9 mln tonnes in 2024. South African exports to Mainland China surged by +194.6% y-o-y in 2025 to 2.6 mln tonnes, -25.6% y-o-y from 0.9 mln t in 2024”, the shipbroker concluded.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide