# Richards Bay (ZA RCB)

**UN/LOCODE:** ZA RCB  
**Country:** South Africa  
**Water Body:** Indian Ocean  
**Harbor Size:** Medium  
**Harbor Type:** Coastal (Breakwater)  
**GPS:** -28.8100, 32.0983

Richards Bay (ZA RCB), South Africa's leading coal-export port in KwaZulu-Natal, is home to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) — Africa's largest coal-loading facility, designed for 91 million tonnes a year — which shipped 57.66 million tonnes in 2025, up more than 10 percent year-on-year. Asia absorbed roughly 80 percent of 2025 exports, with India leading at 25.75 million tonnes (45 percent), while Morocco was the continent's largest buyer. By end-June 2026 RBCT had already exported just over 30 million tonnes; at the prevailing rail rate, the industry forecasts around 62 million tonnes for the full year, with Transnet Freight Rail targeting 70 million tonnes by 2028/29. A VAT regulation amendment of 25 August 2026 introduced zero-rating for export goods delivered to licensed terminal operators. Alongside coal, the Transnet-run multipurpose terminal moves other dry bulks — magnetite, heavy-mineral sands, aluminium and woodchips — plus some breakbulk; container traffic is effectively absent. Channels and berths of 18–19 metres accommodate large Capesize bulkers. A dedicated heavy-haul rail line links the quays to the Mpumalanga coalfields; the rolling-stock programme reached completion in 2026 with all 102 new Alstom locomotives now in service on the coal line, stabilising the rail-cycle rate, while CEO Alan Waller reported a 56 percent improvement in network security at the Southern African Coal Conference 2026. For containerised cargo, Durban, about 160 km south, is the nearest option.

## Transit Times & Routes

- [Durban → Shanghai](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/durban-shanghai)
- [Durban → Shenzhen](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/durban-shenzhen)
- [Durban → Guangzhou](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/durban-guangzhou)
- [Durban → Hong Kong](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/durban-hong-kong)
- [Durban → Tokyo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/durban-tokyo)
- [Durban → Busan](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/durban-busan)

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*Freight Academy — Seaport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/richards-bay-port-za-rcb](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/richards-bay-port-za-rcb)*

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*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/seaports/richards-bay-port-za-rcb/llm-summary?lang=en*