The terminal shipped over 70 million metric tons last year, compared with 68.3 million tons in 2012, plus 70.42 million tons brought by rail, 2.8% more than in 2012.

Eastern Asia —which includes countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan— got almost 20 million tons of South African coal during 2013, or 28% of the annual volume.

Europe was the second main destination for the country’s fuel. The continent imported 14.6 million tons (21%), with Western Europe alone receiving 9.1 million tons or 13% during the year.

South Africa is the world’s seventh-largest coal producer, as ranked by the World Coal Association. The country’s sole power utility, state-owned Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., is the main local consumer of coal, using the fuel to meet nearly 85% of its generation needs.