South Africa Balance of Trade

Last Release

Sep 30, 2024

Actual

12,838.1

Units In

ZAR Million

5,630

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Nov 29, 2024

Time to Release

27 Days 11 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
53,829.82 Mar 2021	-36,052.2 Apr 2020	1,446.87 ZAR Million	1957-2024	South African Revenue Service

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.

Latest Updates

South Africa posted a trade surplus of ZAR 12.8 billion in September 2024, up from a downwardly raised ZAR 5.1 billion in the prior month. Exports rose by 3.5% over a month to ZAR 170.7 billion, as higher shipments of vehicles & transport equipment (+29%) and precious metals & stones (+16%) more than offset declines in those of vegetables (-11%), base metals (-5%) and mineral products (-1%). Meanwhile, imports fell by 1.3% to ZAR 157.9 billion, weighed down by reduced purchases of machinery & electronics (-15%) and chemical products (-5%). Conversely, imports increased for mineral products (+20%), prepared foodstuff (+11%) and original equipment components (+9%).