South African state-owned logistics company Transnet has announced the suspension of processing trucks carrying coal to its Richards Bay terminal due to unprecedented traffic. The company is grappling with inadequate rail and port capacity for transporting bulk minerals, attributing the challenges to locomotive shortages, cable theft, vandalism, bad weather, and equipment underinvestment. The surge in global demand for coal has led to a significant increase in truck traffic to South Africa's main coal export terminal, causing congestion and safety concerns. The temporary suspension aims to restore order, with mining companies resorting to more expensive trucking options amid infrastructure problems. In 2022, about 41 million metric tons of mineral ores were transported by road to South African ports.

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