Key Takeaways:
- South African mining companies have increased shipments of thermal coal to Israel despite the country’s diplomatic stance against the Israeli government.
- Colombia’s ban on coal exports to Israel has created a gap in the market, which South Africa has filled by increasing its coal exports to Israel by 87% year on year.
- The increase in coal exports from South Africa to Israel has pushed Israel’s total coal imports up 20% to 667,442 tonnes in the three months to October.
- South Africa’s diplomatic stance against Israel has not affected its commercial activity, with the country continuing to export coal to Israel despite accusing the country of genocide.
- Colombia’s refusal to export coal to Israel has left a significant gap in the market, which South Africa has capitalized on to expand its exports and improve its economy.
Introduction to the Issue
The relationship between South Africa and Israel has been a topic of interest in recent years, particularly with regards to trade and diplomacy. Despite South Africa’s hardline diplomatic stance against the Israeli government, the country’s mining companies have significantly increased shipments of thermal coal to Israel. This surge in coal exports has been triggered by Colombia’s full halt of coal exports to Israel, creating a gap in the market that South Africa has been eager to fill.
Colombia’s Coal Ban and Gaza Fallout
In August 2024, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that his government was officially halting coal exports to Israel, citing the use of Colombian coal in weapons deployed during Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Petro stated that "Colombian coal is used to make bombs to kill Palestinian children," and defended the decision as a response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Although the initial announcement did not immediately stop all shipments due to legal loopholes, the Colombian government later moved to close those gaps, fully banning the export of thermal coal to Israel through a formal presidential decree enacted in July 2025.
Why Colombia’s Ban Matters
Coal is Colombia’s second most valuable export after oil, and in 2023, the country shipped nearly $447 million worth of coal to Israel, accounting for 5% of total exports and nearly half of Israel’s coal imports. By August 2024, roughly 41% of Israel’s coal imports originated from Colombia, with Glencore and US-based Drummond as the main suppliers. Colombia’s ban on coal exports to Israel has had a significant impact on the global coal market, creating a gap that other countries have been eager to fill.
South Africa Steps in as Exports Surge
As Colombian exports fell to zero in the three months ended November, South Africa stepped in to fill much of the shortfall. South African coal exports to Israel rose 87% year on year to 474,000 metric tonnes during that period, with nearly 170,000 tonnes expected to be shipped this month, according to shipping data. The increase pushed Israel’s total coal imports up 20% to 667,442 tonnes in the three months to October, the highest level for any three-month period since February 2017, based on official South African customs figures.
Diplomatic Stance versus Trade Flows
Like Colombia, South Africa has been a vocal critic of Israel, accusing the country of genocide at the International Court of Justice, a claim rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Nevertheless, unlike Colombia, South Africa has continued exporting coal, highlighting a notable divergence between its diplomatic position and commercial activity. While South Africa’s Trade Minister, Parks Tau, has previously cautioned that sanctions on Israel could invite legal challenges under World Trade Organization rules, Colombia, also a WTO member, has reportedly faced no formal challenge following its coal export ban.
Trade, Law, and Future Supply
With Russia’s influence in the global coal trade declining, Israel has been seeking alternative suppliers, as the country’s coal imports from Russia have fallen sharply to less than 3% so far this year. Colombia’s refusal to export coal, despite external pressures, has left a significant gap in the market. Key Colombian producers, including Glencore and Drummond, had previously shipped at least seven vessels carrying a total of 795,387 tons of coal to Israel but were forced to scale back shipments following mounting government pressure. Industry data indicate that South Africa has stepped into this role, capitalizing on the opportunity to expand exports amid domestic economic challenges, even as Israel plans to phase out coal as a primary source of energy by 2027.
