South Africa Balance of Trade  1957-2017 | Data | Chart | Calendar

South Africa trade surplus decreased to ZAR 5.94 billion in August of 2017 from an upwardly revised 9.33 billion surplus in July, but beating market expectations of a ZAR 3.2 billion surplus. Exports increased 11 percent while imports advanced at a faster 16.3 percent. Considering the January to August period, exports increased 5.8 percent and imports decreased 2.1 percent, shifting the country's trade balance into a ZAR 43.5 billion surplus from a ZAR 13.7 billion gap in the same period of 2016. Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 55.36 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 18730.94 ZAR Million in May of 2016 and a record low of -23426.17 ZAR Million in January of 2015.

South Africa Balance of Trade
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South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows in August


South Africa trade surplus decreased to ZAR 5.94 billion in August of 2017 from an upwardly revised 9.33 billion surplus in July, but beating market expectations of a ZAR 3.2 billion surplus. Exports increased 11 percent while imports advanced at a faster 16.3 percent. Considering the January to August period, exports increased 5.8 percent and imports decreased 2.1 percent, shifting the country's trade balance into a ZAR 43.5 billion surplus from a ZAR 13.7 billion gap in the same period of 2016.

Compared with the previous month, exports increased to ZAR 103.4 billion from ZAR 93.1 billion, led by higher shipments of mineral products (21 percent); precious metals and stones (20 percent); base metals (12 percent); machinery and electronics (12 percent) while those of vehicles and transport equipment fell 17 percent. Major destinations for sales were China (9.9 percent); the US (8.1 percent); Germany (6.8 percent); Japan (4.7 percent) and Botswana (4.6 percent).

Imports advanced to ZAR 97.4 billion from ZAR 83.8 billion, due to higher purchases of mineral products (65 percent); prepared foodstuffs (36 percent); textiles (27 percent); original equipment components (29 percent) and machinery and electronics (11 percent). Imports came mostly from China (21.3 percent of total imports); Germany (14.1 percent); the US (7.8 percent); India (5.6 percent) and Saudi Arabia (5.2 percent).

Excluding trade with neighboring Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, the country posted a trade deficit of ZAR 1.9 billion in August compared to a ZAR 2.6 billion surplus in July.

South African Revenue Service |Luisa Carvalho | luisa.carvalho@tradingeconomics.com
9/29/2017 1:44:11 PM


Recent Releases

South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows in July
South Africa trade surplus decreased to ZAR 8.99 billion in July of 2017 from a downwardly revised ZAR 10.56 billion surplus in June, beating market expectations of a ZAR 5.8 billion surplus. Exports fell 8.7 percent and imports declined at a slower 8 percent. Considering the January to July period, exports rose 4.4 percent and imports tumbled 2.2 percent, shifting the country's trade balance into a ZAR 36.6 billion surplus from a ZAR 4.703 billion gap in the same period of 2016.
Published on 2017-08-31

South Africa Trade Surplus Higher than Expected
South Africa trade surplus increased to ZAR 10.67 billion in June of 2017 from a downwardly revised ZAR 7.22 billion surplus in May, beating market expectations of a ZAR 8.4 billion surplus. Imports slumped 4.2 percent while exports declined at a slower 0.6 percent. Considering the first six months of the year, exports jumped 4.7 percent while imports went down 1.4 percent, shifting the country's trade balance into a ZAR 27.67 billion surplus from a ZAR 5.042 billion gap in the same period of 2016.
Published on 2017-07-31

South Africa Trade Surplus Widens In May
South Africa's trade surplus widened to ZAR 9.5 billion in May 2017 from a downwardly revised ZAR 5.0 billion in the previous month and below market expectations of ZAR 10.6 billion. Exports jumped 15.4 percent to ZAR 105.0 billion, mainly due to higher sales of miscellaneous manufactured articles and vegetable products. Imports increased at a slower 11 percent to ZAR 95.5 billion, driven by purchases of original equipment components, and mineral products.
Published on 2017-06-30

South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows In April
South Africa posted a trade surplus of ZAR 5.1 billion in April of 2017 compared to a downwardly revised ZAR 11.3 billion surplus in March and slightly below market expectations of ZAR 5.5 billion. Exports fell 9.2 percent to ZAR 91.8 billion, due to lower sales of precious metals and stones, vehicles & transport equipment, machinery & electronics and chemicals. Imports went down 3.4 percent to ZAR 86.7 billion, driven by purchases of optical photographic products, original equipment components, vegetables, and chemicals.
Published on 2017-05-31



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2017-07-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR 10.67B ZAR 7.22B ZAR 8.4B ZAR 8B
2017-08-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR 8.99B ZAR 10.56B ZAR 5.8B ZAR 9B
2017-09-29 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR5.94B ZAR9.33B ZAR 3.2B ZAR 2.5B
2017-10-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR5.94B
2017-11-30 12:00 PM Balance of Trade
2017-12-29 12:00 PM Balance of Trade


South Africa Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 5940.60 9330.50 18730.94 -23426.17 ZAR Million [+]
Exports 103377.00 93094.40 105163.26 55.80 ZAR Million [+]
Imports 97436.10 84108.80 110258.82 66.10 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account -110457.00 -91499.00 15627.00 -241786.00 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -3.30 -4.40 6.00 -7.50 percent [+]
External Debt 158533.00 152793.00 158533.00 33262.00 USD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 1347125.00 1155058.00 1558854.00 37430.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 125.25 125.25 183.51 123.48 Tonnes [+]
Terrorism Index 3.53 4.23 4.23 0.22 [+]
Weapons Sales 59.00 61.00 235.00 1.00 USD Million [+]
Crude Oil Production 2.00 2.00 58.00 2.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 1830.00 1868.00 2089.00 1.00 ZAR Billion [+]

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



South Africa Balance of Trade

In 2015, South Africa recorded the biggest trade deficits with China, Germany, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, France, Italy and India and the biggest trade surpluses with Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Belgium and Japan. . 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 October of 2017.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5940.60 9330.50 18730.94 -23426.17 1957 - 2017 ZAR Million Monthly




balance of trade by Country

Last
Australia 989.00 Aug/17
Brazil 5178.00 Sep/17
Canada -3413.40 Aug/17
China 284.67 Sep/17
Euro Area 16086.90 Aug/17
France -4514.00 Aug/17
Germany 20000.00 Aug/17
India -8984.29 Sep/17
Indonesia 1760.00 Sep/17
Italy 2769.02 Aug/17
Japan 670.17 Sep/17
Mexico -2732.00 Aug/17
Netherlands 4073.00 Aug/17
Russia 6612.00 Aug/17
South Korea 13800.00 Sep/17
Spain -3226685.00 Aug/17
Switzerland 2917.62 Sep/17
Turkey -5873.11 Aug/17
United Kingdom -5626.00 Aug/17
United States -42395.00 Aug/17