Exxaro forecasts higher coal exports as Iran war rattles energy markets
Quidah is an online platform that connects investors with curated opportunities and expert insights on Africa’s emerging markets, while offering businesses promotional services, partnership facilitation, and market intelligence to attract capital and grow their operations.
Industries
South Africa’s Exxaro Resources said on Thursday its coal exports could rise by up to 12% in 2026, helped by improving freight rail performance. The miner said energy supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict were pushing coal prices higher, while also raising wider concerns about global energy security.
Exxaro said exports could reach 8 million metric tons this year, up from 7.1 million tons in 2025. The company warned that prolonged or broader regional destabilisation could disrupt energy security and bulk shipping, tightening global oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
The company said that if those conditions persisted, demand could shift further toward alternative fuels, supporting thermal coal prices. The benchmark South African export coal price, API4, has climbed to $118 a ton from the $90 average Exxaro realised in 2025.
Exxaro said it recorded a 2% rise in exports in 2025 as South Africa’s freight rail performance continued to improve. Miners including Exxaro have been helping state-owned logistics firm Transnet raise minerals-hauling capacity after years of cable theft and vandalism.
The miner also said 2025 profit rose 8% as cost controls offset weaker coal prices. Headline earnings per share came in at 32.47 rand, up from 30.16 rand a year earlier, and the company declared a final dividend of 10 rand per share, up 15% from the previous payout.
