South Africa's current account deficit shrank to ZAR 57 billion in Q3 2025, from a revised ZAR 72.2 billion in the previous three-month period. The primary income account shortfall narrowed to ZAR 137 billion from ZAR 173 billion in Q2 and the secondary income gap was little changed at ZAR 29 billion. Meanwhile, the trade surplus shrank further to ZAR 178.3 billion from ZAR 187.2 billion in Q2, as the value of imports increased more than exports, with higher crude oil and refined fuel purchases weighing. At the same time, the services surplus fell to ZAR 109 billion from ZAR 129 billion. The current account deficit as a ratio of gross domestic product (GDP) narrowed to 0.7% in Q3 from a downwardly revised 1% in Q2 and below analysts' expectations of 1.3%. source: South African Reserve Bank

South Africa recorded a Current Account deficit of 57023 ZAR Million in the third quarter of 2025. Current Account in South Africa averaged -26761.81 ZAR Million from 1960 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 307426.00 ZAR Million in the second quarter of 2021 and a record low of -241123.00 ZAR Million in the third quarter of 2013. This page provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Current Account - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. South Africa Current Account - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

South Africa recorded a Current Account deficit of 57023 ZAR Million in the third quarter of 2025. Current Account in South Africa is expected to be -100000.00 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 Current Account is projected to trend around -160000.00 ZAR Million in 2026 and -180000.00 ZAR Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-09-11 09:00 AM
Current Account
Q2 ZAR-82.8B ZAR-47.8B ZAR -130.0B
2025-12-04 09:00 AM
Current Account
Q3 ZAR-57B ZAR-72.2B ZAR -32.0B
2026-03-12 09:00 AM
Current Account
Q4 ZAR-57B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 23180.00 37920.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Current Account -57023.00 -72223.00 ZAR Million Sep 2025
Current Account to GDP -0.60 -1.60 percent of GDP Dec 2024
Exports 164263.21 187634.46 ZAR Million Dec 2025
External Debt 193047.00 180237.00 USD Million Sep 2025
Foreign Direct Investment -21000.00 -73452.00 ZAR Million Sep 2025
Imports 141086.64 149714.74 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Terms of Trade 110.60 110.00 points Sep 2025


South Africa Current Account
Current Account is the sum of the balance of trade (exports minus imports of goods and services), net factor income (such as interest and dividends) and net transfer payments (such as foreign aid).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-57023.00 -72223.00 307426.00 -241123.00 1960 - 2025 ZAR Million Quarterly
SA, Annualized

News Stream
South Africa Current Account Gap Narrows in Q3
South Africa's current account deficit shrank to ZAR 57 billion in Q3 2025, from a revised ZAR 72.2 billion in the previous three-month period. The primary income account shortfall narrowed to ZAR 137 billion from ZAR 173 billion in Q2 and the secondary income gap was little changed at ZAR 29 billion. Meanwhile, the trade surplus shrank further to ZAR 178.3 billion from ZAR 187.2 billion in Q2, as the value of imports increased more than exports, with higher crude oil and refined fuel purchases weighing. At the same time, the services surplus fell to ZAR 109 billion from ZAR 129 billion. The current account deficit as a ratio of gross domestic product (GDP) narrowed to 0.7% in Q3 from a downwardly revised 1% in Q2 and below analysts' expectations of 1.3%.
2025-12-04
South Africa Current Account Gap Largest in 1-1/2-Years
South Africa's current account deficit widened to ZAR 82.8 billion in Q2 2025, from a revised ZAR 47.8 billion in the previous three-month period. It was the largest current account shortfall since Q4 2023, as the trade surplus narrowed further to ZAR 177.1 billion from ZAR 211.0 billion in Q1. At the same time, the deficit on the services, income, and current transfer account widened slightly to ZAR 259.9 billion from ZAR 258.9 billion, driven by a larger income account deficit, even as the deficits in the services and current transfer accounts narrowed. The current account deficit as a ratio of gross domestic product (GDP) widened to 1.1% in Q2 from an upwardly revised 0.6% in the preceding quarter and above analysts' expectations of 0.7%.
2025-09-11
South Africa Current Account Gap Shrinks Slightly in Q1
South Africa's current account deficit narrowed to ZAR 35.6 billion in Q1 2025, from a revised ZAR 39.3 billion in the previous three-month period. The goods surplus fell slightly to ZAR 221.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025 from ZAR 226.4 billion in Q4 2024, as imports (+3.6%) increased more rapidly than exports (+2.9%). Meanwhile, the shortfall on the services, income, and current transfer account narrowed to ZAR 256.8 billion from ZAR 265.7 billion in Q4, driven by smaller services and income deficits that offset a wider current transfer gap. As a ratio of GDP, the current account gap remained broadly unchanged at 0.5% in Q1 compared to the preceding quarter.
2025-06-05