South Africa Breaks Coal and Manganese Export Records as Bulk Terminals Face Capacity Pressure in 2026
South Africa has recorded its highest-ever export volumes of coal and manganese over the past year, but the surge is now testing whether the country’s rail corridors and bulk terminals can sustain the pace of rising mining output.
While increased export tonnage is positive for the economy, the constraint in 2026 is no longer production at the mines but the ability of the logistics system rail lines, terminals and ports to move and load cargo efficiently.
Coal exports supported by rail recovery
The Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), Africa’s largest coal export facility, handled 7,157 bulk train loads in 2025, an increase of 11.27% compared to 6,342 trains in 2024.
The improvement reflects a gradual recovery in performance by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), which has been working to restore reliability across key freight corridors.
Industry expectations suggest rail deliveries to RBCT could average around 63.5 million tonnes annually, with early-year performance showing stronger momentum.
While still below full terminal capacity, the recovery marks a significant improvement after years of disruption caused by locomotive shortages, infrastructure damage and operational inefficiencies.
Manganese exports rely on two constrained corridors
South Africa’s manganese exports, a critical global supply, are primarily routed through two systems: the Gqeberha corridor, handling approximately 16 million tonnes annually, and the Saldanha line, which moves around 8 million tonnes per year.
Saldanha offers a dedicated bulk handling system, but both corridors face infrastructure and capacity constraints that limit how much additional volume can be absorbed.
As a result, near-term improvements are focused on operational optimisation rather than large-scale expansion.
Bulk logistics chain under pressure
The record export performance is exposing structural pressure points across the bulk handling system, including rail scheduling, stockyard capacity, shiploader efficiency and berth availability.
When rail arrivals and vessel loading are not synchronised, cargo bottlenecks quickly form, leading to delays and increased demurrage costs.
For logistics operators, the current environment presents opportunity but also operational risk, particularly for those involved in road-rail intermodal flows supporting bulk exports.
What this means for SADC logistics operators
Operators moving bulk commodities should closely monitor capacity conditions across Richards Bay, Saldanha and Gqeberha before committing volumes.
Efficient alignment with rail schedules and terminal throughput will be critical, as port and rail constraints remain the primary limiting factor on export growth despite strong mining output.
