Bulk trade slips ending year

BULK shipments at the Port of Richards Bay dropped in December as volatile domestic coal mining output takes effect after a steady three-month climb in trade from September.

From November, imports declined month-on-month by 43% from 524 262 metric tons (MT) to 300 023 MT.

Exports fell during the same period by 5% from 8.1 million to 7.9 million MT.

Break bulk imports for the month was also down by 45% from 2147 to 1184 MT, however, exports increased by 4.5% from 280 394 to 302 592 MT.

All in all, total bulk handling shrunk by 4.5% from 8.9 million in November to 8.5 million MT in December.