Changes

As of 2011, South Africa is the world's sixth largest coal producer and fifth largest exporter. In 2009 it produced 247Mt of hard coal, of which 27% was exported. 99% of its exports were thermal coal. Historically the country's largest export operations were owned by [[Anglo American]], [[BHP Billiton]] and [[Xstrata]]. [[Richards Bay Coal Terminal]] in South Africa was once the world's largest coal export terminal.<ref>[http://www.forbescoal.com/projects/coal-markets/ "Introduction to the South African Coal Industry"] Forbes Coal, accessed July 2011.</ref> In 2011, coal exports from the terminal was expanded.<ref>Agnieszka Flak, [http://www.sharenet.co.za/news/SAfricas_Transnet_says_moving_RBCT_coal_at_record_rate/2e77162e054eaa1f2086b59c88383f61 "S.Africa's Transnet says moving RBCT coal at record"] ShareNet, Oct. 26, 2011.</ref>

In September 2010, Bloomberg reported that South Africa for the first time was began selling more coal to Asia than to Europe. South Africa accounted for about 30 percent of India’s thermal coal imports, as shipments in the first eight months of 2010 increased to 13.3 million tons, while China’s purchases increased to 4.7 million tons. Purchases by Asia in the first eight months totaled 29 million tons, while Europe brought in 5.8 million tons.<ref>Dinakar Sethuraman and Archana Chaudhary, [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-23/coal-from-south-africa-seen-rebounding-on-sales-to-india-energy-markets.html "Coal From South Africa Seen Rebounding on Sales to India: Energy Markets"] Bloomberg, Sep. 22, 2010.</ref> In early January 2011, MMTC, India's largest state-run trading company, announced that India was going to increase its coal imports from South Africa.<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-10/india-plans-to-boost-south-african-imports-of-gold-coal-gems-and-metals.html "India Plans to Boost South African Imports of Gold, Coal, Gems and Metals"> Carli Lourens, January 10, 2011.</ref>