South Africa's logistics group Transnet said it may take two to three months to get its rail unit, which transports coal and iron-ore for exports, operating at levels seen before a three week strike which ended on Thursday.

"To get our rail systems operating at the tempo that we did before the strike, it would take us two to three months because of the imbalances in our fleet," Pradeep Maharaj, Transnet's HR Executive told Reuters on Friday.

South Africa is a major exporter of coal to power stations in Europe and Asia and is the world's 10th largest producer of iron ore. Companies in the two sectors include Anglo American, Xstrata, Optimum Coal, Kumba Iron Ore and Exxaro.

Transnet's operations have been hit by a strike that paralysed railways and ports, denting exports of metals, coal, cars, fruit and wine to Europe and Asia as well as imports of vehicle parts and fuel.

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