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South African Resource Exports to China Struggle to Get Going Again After Last Week’s Mayhem

by Eric Olander
Clean up after a week of looting and arson in Durban, South Africa. AFP.

Exports of critical minerals and other extractive commodities to China through South Africa’s main port in Durban remain intermittent as the country digs itself out of the wreckage brought on by last week’s mass protests and looting. At least 212 people died in the violence.

Transnet, South Africa’s state-owned port and rail operator, said over the weekend that it may take up to two weeks to get shipments moving normally. Those disruptions, though, have prompted some exporters to halt shipments to China, South Africa’s largest trading partner. 

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