South Africa's trade surplus decreased to ZAR 37.4 billion in July of 2020 from a downwardly revised ZAR 45.7 billion in the previous month. Still, it was the second-largest monthly trade surplus on record, helped by the further easing of coronavirus restrictions both at home and abroad. Imports surged 22.1 percent to ZAR 85.1 billion, boosted by purchases of vehicles & transport equipment (88%); original equipment components (86%); mineral products (37%); chemicals (17%) and machinery & electronics (15%). Meantime, exports rose at a much slower 6.1 percent to ZAR 122.5 billion, as higher shipments of vehicles & transport equipment (42%) and machinery & electronics (17%) were partly offset by a decrease in those of precious metals & stones (-5 percent).

Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 264.85 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 45731 ZAR Million in June of 2020 and a record low of -35946.48 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 September of 2020. source: South African Revenue Service

Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 7000.00 ZAR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in South Africa to stand at 10000.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the South Africa Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -1542.00 ZAR Million in 2021 and 27000.00 ZAR Million in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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South Africa Balance of Trade

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
37420.00 45731.00 45731.00 -35946.48 1957 - 2020 ZAR Million Monthly


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-05-29 12:00 PM Apr ZAR-35.02B ZAR23.94B ZAR10.5B ZAR 15B
2020-06-30 12:00 PM May ZAR15.94B ZAR-35.95B ZAR-4.7B ZAR -3.5B
2020-07-31 12:00 PM Jun ZAR46.63B ZAR19.69B ZAR 20B
2020-08-31 12:00 PM Jul ZAR37.42B ZAR45.73B ZAR 30B
2020-09-30 12:00 PM Aug ZAR37.42B ZAR18B
2020-10-30 12:00 PM Sep ZAR 7B
2020-11-30 12:00 PM Oct
2020-12-28 12:00 PM Nov
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows in July
South Africa's trade surplus decreased to ZAR 37.4 billion in July of 2020 from a downwardly revised ZAR 45.7 billion in the previous month. Still, it was the second-largest monthly trade surplus on record, helped by the further easing of coronavirus restrictions both at home and abroad. Imports surged 22.1 percent to ZAR 85.1 billion, boosted by purchases of vehicles & transport equipment (88%); original equipment components (86%); mineral products (37%); chemicals (17%) and machinery & electronics (15%). Meantime, exports rose at a much slower 6.1 percent to ZAR 122.5 billion, as higher shipments of vehicles & transport equipment (42%) and machinery & electronics (17%) were partly offset by a decrease in those of precious metals & stones (-5 percent).
2020-08-31
South Africa Posts Largest Trade Surplus on Record
South Africa’s trade surplus widened sharply to ZAR 46.6 billion in June 2020 from an upwardly revised ZAR 19.7 billion in the previous month. It was the largest trade surplus on record, amid the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions locally and in key destination markets. Exports increased 10.1 percent over a month earlier to ZAR 116.3 billion, boosted by sales of vehicles & transport equipment (50%); vegetable products (38%); machinery & electronics (36%); and precious metals & stones (19%). Meantime, imports dropped 18.9 percent to ZAR 69.7 billion, due to lower purchases of original equipment components (-64%); textiles (-53%); vehicles & transport equipment (-40%); mineral products (-20%); and machinery & electronics (-8%). Considering the first half of the year, the country’s trade balance shifted to a ZAR 63.1 billion surplus from a ZAR 4.7 billion deficit in the same period a year earlier.
2020-07-31
South Africa Trade Balance Shifts to Surplus in May
South Africa posted a trade surplus of ZAR 15.9 billion in May of 2020 compared to an upwardly revised deficit of ZAR 36 billion in April and beating market expectations of a ZAR 4.7 billion deficit, due to easing restrictions locally and in key destination markets. Exports climbed 96.1 percent to ZAR 101.8 billion, amid sharp increases in shipments of machinery & electronics (427%); vehicles & transport equipment (221%); base metals (182%); precious metals & stones (162%) and mineral products (79%). Meanwhile, imports fell 2.2 percent to ZAR 85.9 billion, due to reduced purchases of mineral products (-20%); vegetables (-43%); vehicles & transport equipment (-22%) and original equipment components (-18%).
2020-06-30
South Africa Posts Largest Trade Gap on Record
South Africa recorded a trade deficit of ZAR 35 billion in April of 2020 compared to a downwardly revised ZAR 23.9 billion surplus in the previous month and against market expectations of a ZAR 10.5 billion surplus. This was the widest monthly trade shortfall on record, as the adverse effects from the global pandemic began to be felt. Exports plunged 55.1% to ZAR 53 billion, as shipments fell sharply in all categories, namely precious metals & stones (-67%); vehicles & transport equipment (-88%); mineral products (-39%);;machinery & electronics (-85%) and base metals (-64%). Meantime, imports fell at a slower 6.5%.to ZAR 381.4 billion, on lower purchases of mineral products (-30%); original equipment components (-36%) and vehicles & transport equipment (-20%).
2020-05-29

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.