[Ferro-Alloys.com] 

Millions Lost Daily as SA Mineral Exports Blocked From Entering Mozambique

The temporary closing of the Lebombo border crossing into Mozambique from South Africa, triggered by escalating protests over last month’s disputed election, is a fresh setback to South African chrome producers and other miners.

In a sign of the ripple effect from the border closure and the mounting unrest, South African logistics company Grindrod said on Thursday that it had suspended its port and terminal operations in Mozambique.

South African minerals producers, notably chrome miners, have increasingly been pushing their exports through Maputo – the main destination is China – as the state-run logistics company Transnet went off the rails.

Chrome producer Tharisa moves about a third of its chrome via Maputo and spokesperson Ilja Graulich told that the company had no trucks currently in Mozambique and would for now divert any product destined for there to other ports such as Durban.

• [Editor:邢亚敏]