Tshipi Shifted Manganese Exports to Bypass Rail Constraints
Mining operators can mitigate logistical volatility by diversifying export routes away from primary rail networks.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Transportation
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In fiscal year 2026, manganese producer Tshipi exported 828,000 tonnes of ore through Namibia's Port of Lüderitz to maintain total sales of 3.5 million tonnes. This strategic shift helped the company circumvent ongoing rail network variability and disruptions in South Africa.
Why it matters
Tshipi relied on flexible logistics to protect its bottom line against South African infrastructure instability, such as derailments and maintenance shutdowns. By balancing rail and road transport over a 1,000 km transit distance, the company secured its ability to meet global supply demands.
Tshipi exported 828,000 tonnes of manganese through the Port of Lüderitz in fiscal year 2026 out of 3.5 million tonnes in total sales. The company maintains a 1,000 km logistics chain and reported $37.6 million in net after-tax profit for the period.
The players
Tshipi é Ntle Manganese
A mining operation located in the Kalahari manganese field jointly owned by Jupiter Mines and Exxaro Resources.
Jupiter Mines
A mining company with a 49.9% stake in Tshipi that focuses on supplying materials for the global steel and battery markets.
Exxaro Resources
A diversified mining company holding a 50.1% controlling interest in the Tshipi é Ntle Manganese operation.
Transnet
The South African state-owned enterprise responsible for rail and port infrastructure critical to mining logistics.
The details
To navigate the 1,000 km distance between the Kalahari manganese field and export ports, Tshipi actively balanced rail and road volumes to bypass persistent rail network disruptions. The company continues to participate in the long-term MECA3 public-private logistics framework with Transnet to manage transport reliability. Plans are now underway for a transshipment project at the Port of Lüderitz intended to facilitate loading on larger vessels.
Timeline
Fiscal year 2026 saw Tshipi move 828,000 tonnes through the Port of Lüderitz.
September 30, 2026, marked the release of the annual report from Jupiter Mines.
Market Landscape
Tshipi operates within the constraints of the MECA3 public-private logistics framework, which governs infrastructure access in the region. This strategy follows a broader trend of mining firms investing in alternative export hubs to reduce dependence on state-controlled rail.
Operators reliant on single-mode freight should evaluate whether temporary road-bridge costs provide better margin protection than waiting for rail recovery. Review existing long-term logistics agreements to determine if they allow for the operational flexibility required to reroute shipments.
The takeaway
Reliability in commodity transport often requires investing in alternative capacity before a primary network fails. Operators should track global steel demand forecasts, which are projected to grow by 2.2% next year, as a signal for when to accelerate infrastructure bypass projects.
Further reading
For more on industry supply chain shifts, see our coverage of Transportation.
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