South Africa exported 6.14 million mt of thermal coal in October, down 12.8% on the year and 10.7% from September's nine-month high, with lower shipments to India, Europe and Turkey, according to customs data released late Wednesday.
Total South African thermal coal exports over January-October were at 58.51 million mt, down 4.9% on-year.
As usual, India was the largest taker of South African thermal coal at 3.13 million mt, although exports to the country fell 6% year-on-year and 5% from September.
Shipments to Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean fell for the second straight month to a four-month low of 486,183 mt, with the Netherlands taking 166,783 mt -- the lowest since June -- and Italy taking 319,400 mt.
Exports to South Korea were close behind at 428,510 mt, the highest since S&P Global Platts record began in 2014. Nothing was shipped to Turkey for the first time since May.
Platts' 7-45 day price assessment jumped $17.90 during October to close at $92.15/mt FOB at the end of the month.
