A consortium of South African manganese producers plans to compete for a landmark infrastructure project that could reshape global mineral trade flows. African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) confirmed Friday that private miners aim to partner with state-owned Transnet to build a 16-million-ton capacity manganese export terminal at Port of Ngqura.
The proposed terminal comes as South Africa strengthens its position as the world's manganese powerhouse, controlling 70% of global reserves. This year's bid follows record 2025 exports of 26.2 million tons, according to Minerals Council South Africa data.
"The MPC intends to bid for the design, construction, and operation of the Ngqura terminal through a joint venture with Transnet," ARM stated in its latest financial report. The project forms part of broader efforts to revive South Africa's mineral logistics network after years of capacity constraints.
Transnet plans to open bidding in April 2026, offering private operators unprecedented access to port infrastructure. While manganese earnings fell 76% recently due to price fluctuations, ARM reported a 10% overall profit rise to $100.81 million in late 2025, buoyed by platinum group metals.
Industry analysts suggest the terminal could help stabilize export revenues while addressing chronic rail and port bottlenecks that have hampered Africa's industrial economy.
