South Africa trade balance shifted to a ZAR 3.49 billion surplus in November of 2018 from a downwardly revised ZAR 4.29 billion deficit in the previous month and beating market expectations of a ZAR 2.25 billion gap. Considering the January to November period, the country recorded a ZAR 4.16 billion shortfall. Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 95.24 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 18730.94 ZAR Million in May of 2016 and a record low of -27100 ZAR Million in January of 2018.

Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 472.00 ZAR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in South Africa to stand at -1407.75 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the South Africa Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -1700.00 ZAR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.

South Africa Balance of Trade
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-09-28 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR8.8B ZAR-5.3B ZAR5B ZAR 0.82B
2018-10-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR-2.95B ZAR8.77B ZAR4B ZAR 7.3B
2018-11-30 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR-5.55B ZAR-3.83B ZAR-2.25B ZAR -2.6B
2018-12-28 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR3.49B ZAR-4.29B ZAR-2.25B ZAR 0.21B
2019-01-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade 472
2019-01-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade 472
2019-02-28 12:00 PM Balance of Trade



South Africa Trade Balance Swings to Surplus in November

South Africa trade balance shifted to a ZAR 3.49 billion surplus in November of 2018 from a downwardly revised ZAR 4.29 billion deficit in the previous month and beating market expectations of a ZAR 2.25 billion gap. Considering the January to November period, the country recorded a ZAR 4.16 billion shortfall.

Imports dropped 8.4 percent month-over-month to ZAR 115.35 billion, mostly due to lower purchases of mineral products (-10 percent); chemical products (-9 percent); precious metals & stones (-56 percent); original equipment components (-23 percent) and vehicles & transport equipments (-9 percent). The most important import partners were: China (19.6 percent of total imports), Germany (9.5 percent), the US (6.4 percent), Saudi Arabia (4.8 percent) and Nigeria (3.9 percent).

Exports declined 2.3 percent month-over-month to ZAR 118.84 billion, mainly due to lower sales of vegetable products (-26 percent); prepared foodstuff (-9 percent) and vehicle & transport equipments (-13 percent). Meanwhile, sales increased for mineral products (2 percent) and chemicals (6 percent). Main export partners were: China (9.9 percent of total exports), Germany (8.5 percent), the US (7.0 percent), Japan (4.9 percent) and India (4.8 percent).

Excluding trade with neighboring Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, the country recorded a trade gap of ZAR 6.40 billion in November.


South African Revenue Service | Stefanie Moya | stefanie.moya@tradingeconomics.com
12/28/2018 12:19:57 PM


News

South Africa Trade Gap Largest in 9 Months
South Africa trade deficit widened to ZAR 5.55 billion in October of 2018 from a downwardly revised ZAR 3.83 billion in the previous month and compared with market expectations of a ZAR 2.25 billion shortfall. It was the largest trade gap since January, as imports rose faster than exports. Considering the first ten months of the year, the country posted a ZAR 8.82 billion deficit.
Published on 2018-11-30

South Africa Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in September
South Africa trade balance shifted to a ZAR 2.95 billion deficit in September of 2018 from a downwardly revised ZAR 8.77 billion surplus and well below market expectations of a ZAR 4.0 billion surplus. It was the smallest trade gap since February. Considering the January to September period, the country posted a ZAR 0.33 billion gap.
Published on 2018-10-31

South Africa Trade Balance Swings to Surplus in August
South African trade balance shifted to a ZAR 8.79 billion surplus in August of 2018 from an upwardly revised ZAR 5.29 bilion deficit in July and above market expectations of a ZAR 5 billion surplus. Considering the January to August period, the country posted a ZAR 2.66 billion surplus.
Published on 2018-09-28

South Africa Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in July
South Africa trade balance shifted to a ZAR 4.66 billion deficit in July of 2018 from a downwardly revised ZAR 11.89 billion surplus in the previous month and well below market consensus of a ZAR 5.4 billion surplus. It was the largest trade deficit since January, as exports fell while imports picked up. Considering the first seven months of the year, the country recorded a trade deficit of ZAR 6.51 billion.
Published on 2018-08-31



South Africa Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 3494.40 -4285.50 18730.94 -27100.00 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account -176577.00 -167380.00 15627.00 -246452.00 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -2.50 -2.80 6.00 -7.50 percent [+]
Imports 115350.20 125916.90 125916.90 66.10 ZAR Million [+]
Exports 118844.60 121631.30 121631.30 55.80 ZAR Million [+]
External Debt 168147.00 170811.00 183239.00 33262.00 USD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 1323652.00 1293615.00 1598893.00 37430.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 125.30 125.30 183.51 123.48 Tonnes [+]
Terrorism Index 4.09 3.53 4.23 0.22 [+]
Weapons Sales 74.00 65.00 235.00 1.00 USD Million [+]
Crude Oil Production 2.00 2.00 58.00 2.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 1885.00 1863.00 2101.00 1.00 ZAR Billion [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



South Africa Balance of Trade

In 2017, South Africa recorded the biggest trade deficits with China, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Thailand, France, Nigeria, Italy and Brazil and the biggest trade surpluses with Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Belgium and Netherlands. This page provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. South Africa Balance of Trade - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on January of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3494.40 -4285.50 18730.94 -27100.00 1957 - 2018 ZAR Million Monthly




Country Last Previous
Argentina 979.00 Nov/18
Australia 1925.00 Nov/18
Brazil 6639.00 Dec/18
Canada -2060.10 Nov/18
China 570.60 Dec/18
Euro Area 18967.90 Nov/18
France -5099.00 Nov/18
Germany 20500.00 Nov/18
India -13080.00 Dec/18
Indonesia -1102.00 Dec/18
Italy 3843.00 Nov/18
Japan -737.30 Nov/18
Mexico -2382.00 Nov/18
Netherlands 6983.00 Nov/18
Russia 19697.00 Oct/18
Saudi Arabia 184673.00 Sep/18
Singapore 1943.12 Dec/18
South Africa 3494.40 Nov/18
South Korea 4558.00 Dec/18
Spain -3836500.00 Oct/18
Switzerland 3071.48 Nov/18
Turkey -651.36 Nov/18
United Kingdom -2904.00 Nov/18
United States -55488.00 Oct/18


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