South Africa posted a trade deficit of ZAR 1.8 billion in May 2026, the first since January 2025, compared to a downwardly revised surplus of ZAR 14.4 billion in the prior month. Exports declined by 5.7% to ZAR 178.8 billion, mainly reflecting reduced shipments of precious metals & stones (-21%); vehicles & transport equipment (-7%) and mineral products (-5%). On the other hand, imports rose by 3.1% to an over 2-1/2-year high of ZAR 180.6 billion, on higher purchases of vehicles & transport equipment (+17%); original equipment components (+12%); mineral products (+7%) and chemical products (+6%). source: South African Revenue Service

South Africa recorded a trade deficit of 1790 ZAR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 1800.61 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 52741.21 ZAR Million in March of 2021 and a record low of -36126.73 ZAR Million in April of 2020. 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 - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

South Africa recorded a trade deficit of 1790 ZAR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 20000.00 ZAR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 25000.00 ZAR Million in 2027 and 15300.00 ZAR Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-29 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Apr ZAR15.16B ZAR30.21B ZAR 15.0B
2026-06-30 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
May ZAR-1.79B ZAR14.43B ZAR 19.0B
2026-07-31 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Jun ZAR-1.79B ZAR 32B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -1790.00 14430.00 ZAR Million May 2026
Current Account 190700.00 50200.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
Current Account to GDP -0.50 -0.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 178831.09 189657.22 ZAR Million May 2026
Exports by Category
Exports by Country
External Debt 195932.00 200307.00 USD Million Mar 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 20300.00 41300.00 ZAR Million Mar 2026
Gold Reserves 125.50 125.47 Tonnes Dec 2025
Imports 180621.58 175223.08 ZAR Million May 2026
Imports by Category
Imports by Country
Terms of Trade 122.50 117.20 points Mar 2026
Terrorism Index 0.00 0.00 Points Dec 2025
Tourist Arrivals 1155059.00 1284245.00 May 2026
Weapons Sales 115.00 96.00 SIPRI TIV Million Dec 2025


South Africa Balance of Trade
In 2021, South Africa recorded a trade surplus for the fifth consecutive year. The top exports of South Africa are mineral products; base metals and articles of base metal; vehicles and aircraft vessels and machinery (6.8 percent), shipped primarily to China, the United States and Germany. The top imports of South Africa are machinery, mineral products, chemicals and vehicles & transport equipment, sourced mainly from China, India and the United States.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-1790.00 14430.00 52741.21 -36126.73 1957 - 2026 ZAR Million Monthly

News Stream
South Africa Posts First Trade Gap in 16 Months
South Africa posted a trade deficit of ZAR 1.8 billion in May 2026, the first since January 2025, compared to a downwardly revised surplus of ZAR 14.4 billion in the prior month. Exports declined by 5.7% to ZAR 178.8 billion, mainly reflecting reduced shipments of precious metals & stones (-21%); vehicles & transport equipment (-7%) and mineral products (-5%). On the other hand, imports rose by 3.1% to an over 2-1/2-year high of ZAR 180.6 billion, on higher purchases of vehicles & transport equipment (+17%); original equipment components (+12%); mineral products (+7%) and chemical products (+6%).
2026-06-30
South Africa Trade Surplus Shrinks in April
South Africa's trade surplus narrowed to ZAR 15.2 billion in April 2026 from a downwardly revised ZAR 30.2 billion in the previous month, as a sharp rise in imports outpaced export growth. Imports soared 11.8% to ZAR 175 billion, largely due to a 76% jump in purchases of mineral products, alongside a 5% increase in machinery & electronics. Conversely, declines were seen for precious metals & stones (-21%); textiles (-17%) and original equipment components (-10%). Meanwhile, exports rose 1.8% to ZAR 191 billion, driven by a 30% surge in precious metals and stones, which offset weaker shipments of vegetable products (-15%), chemicals (-14%), mineral products (-5%) and transport equipment (-5%).
2026-05-29
South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows in March
South Africa's trade surplus shrank to ZAR 31.9 billion in March 2026 from a downwardly revised ZAR 35.9 billion in the prior month, as imports were stronger than exports. Purchases climbed by 18.4% month-over-month to ZAR 156 billion, driven by mineral products (11%); chemical products (20%); machinery & electronics (15%); vehicles & transport equipment (24%) and original equipment components (39%). Meanwhile, exports rose 12.1% to ZAR 188 billion, with higher sales of mineral products (29%), chemical products (28%), vehicles and transport equipment (17%), and machinery and electronics (16%), offsetting a 7% decline in base metals.
2026-04-30