By Agnieszka Flak
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Some 33 percent of South Africa's coal exports are expected to go to India this year and the proportion may rise to 40 percent in 2010, a consultancy group said on Monday.
Dirk Fourie, Vice President at Wood Mackenzie Africa said that while South Africa is able to export as much as 72 million tonnes of coal this year, due to rail constraints, it might be able to ship less than 65 million tonnes.
'Our forecast is that some 33 percent of that could go to India this year...next year it could be more, up to 40 percent,' he told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference.
Wood Mackenzie offers consulting services and research products to the energy and mining industries.
South Africa has traditionally shipped its coal to Europe, but increased demand from India, which Fourie said is expected to grow at a faster rate than in any other country, and less attractive prices to Europe have changed that.
