South Africa's trade surplus widened to ZAR 35.83 billion in November 2021, from an upwardly revised ZAR 27.68 billion in the previous month and well above market expectations of ZAR 16.8 billion. Exports rose by 4.5 percent from a month earlier, boosted by sales of base metals (21%), precious metals and stones (13%), and vehicles and transport equipment (11%). On the other hand, exports were down for both vegetable products (-30%) and mineral products (-11%). Main export partners were the US (10.9% of total sales), China (10.4%), Germany (6.7%), Japan (6%), and the UK (5.3%). Imports dropped 0.9 percent, due to falling purchases of original equipment components (-42%) and wood pulp and paper (-21%). Still, increases were seen in imports of vehicles and transport equipment (11%), chemical products (10%), and mineral products (9%). Top import partners included China (22.1% of total purchases), the US (7%), Germany (6.4%), India (5.5%), and Saudi Arabia (4.1%). source: South African Revenue Service

Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 1007.73 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2021, reaching an all time high of 53829.82 ZAR Million in March of 2021 and a record low of -36052.20 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 January of 2022.

Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 15000.00 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 12000.00 ZAR Million in 2022 and 45000.00 ZAR Million in 2023, according to our econometric models.

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South Africa Balance of Trade


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.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
35832.57 27682.13 53829.82 -36052.20 1957 - 2021 ZAR Million Monthly

Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2021-11-30 12:00 PM Oct ZAR19.78B ZAR22.15B ZAR 18B
2021-12-28 12:00 PM Nov ZAR35.83B ZAR27.68B ZAR16.8B ZAR17.5B
2022-01-31 12:00 PM Dec ZAR35.83B ZAR 15B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 35832.57 27682.13 ZAR Million Nov/21
Imports 126960.67 128154.10 ZAR Million Nov/21
Exports 162793.24 155836.23 ZAR Million Nov/21


News Stream
South Africa Trade Surplus Larger Than Forecast
South Africa's trade surplus widened to ZAR 35.83 billion in November 2021, from an upwardly revised ZAR 27.68 billion in the previous month and well above market expectations of ZAR 16.8 billion. Exports rose by 4.5 percent from a month earlier, boosted by sales of base metals (21%), precious metals and stones (13%), and vehicles and transport equipment (11%). On the other hand, exports were down for both vegetable products (-30%) and mineral products (-11%). Main export partners were the US (10.9% of total sales), China (10.4%), Germany (6.7%), Japan (6%), and the UK (5.3%). Imports dropped 0.9 percent, due to falling purchases of original equipment components (-42%) and wood pulp and paper (-21%). Still, increases were seen in imports of vehicles and transport equipment (11%), chemical products (10%), and mineral products (9%). Top import partners included China (22.1% of total purchases), the US (7%), Germany (6.4%), India (5.5%), and Saudi Arabia (4.1%).
2021-12-28
South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows in October
The trade surplus in South Africa narrowed to ZAR 19.8 billion in October of 2021 from a downwardly revised ZAR 22.1 billion in September. It was the smallest trade surplus since January, as exports slumped 5.7% to ZAR 147.9 billion, amid lower shipments of vegetables (-33%); mineral products (-14%); chemical products (-13%) and precious metals & stones (-2%). Meanwhile, imports decreased 4.9 percent to ZAR 128.1 billion, as lower purchases of mineral products (-33%); vehicles & transport equipments (-18%) and chemical products (-9%) outweighed increases in those of machinery & electronics (12%) and base metals (14%).
2021-11-30
South Africa Posts Smallest Trade Surplus in 8 Months
The trade surplus in South Africa narrowed to ZAR 22.2 billion in September of 2021 from a downwardly revised ZAR 42.3 billion in August. It was the smallest trade surplus since January, as exports declined 1 percent to ZAR 157 billion, dragged by precious metals & stones (-6%) and machinery & electronics (-7%). However, more sales were recorded for prepared foodstuff (12%), mineral products (1%) and chemical products (6%). Among major trading partners, sales decreased to Europe (-12.5%) and Asia (-0.9%), but increased to Oceania (20.2%), America (6.1%), and Africa (1.7%). Meanwhile, imports surged 15.9 percent to an all-time high of ZAR 134.8 billion, with increases seen in vegetable products (64%), mineral products (68%), machinery & electronics (7%), vehicles & transport equipment (8%), and original equipment components (20%). Imports advanced from Africa (82.9%), Asia (11.1%), Europe (10.2%), and Oceania (19.1%), but dropped by 3.2 percent from America.
2021-10-29