China and India’s growth to boost demand for commodities as logistics bottlenecks affect coal and iron

ECONOMIC growth prospects in China and India is expected to boost demand for South African commodity exports this year although resurgent logistical constraints impacted coal and iron ore in November, with the Minerals Council calling for the government to speedily transport infrastructure for bulk commodities.

- TAWANDA KAROMBO

South Africa's mining production fell in November 2025 by 2.7% on a year-on-year basis after six consecutive months of year-on-year growth, dragged down by steep drops in coal, iron ore, gold, and platinum group metals (PGMs).

However, Bongani Motsa, an economist with the Minerals Council of SA, said this production drop for the month of November was not due to weak demand for shipments from South Africa. Demand for minerals exported from South Africa is likely to remain stronger inspite of geopolitical upheavals sparked off by United States President Donald Trump’s tariff and trade wars with other global players.

Growth prospects in other international economic hubs such as China and India were set to play a key role for South Africa's mineral export and production dynamics.