South Africa posted a trade gap of ZAR 3.43 billion in April 2019 compared to a downwardly revised ZAR 4.70 billion surplus in the prior month and against market expectations of a ZAR 1.25 billion surplus. Exports fell 1.3 percent while imports soared 6.8 percent. Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 92.70 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 17164.95 ZAR Million in May of 2016 and a record low of -26959.20 ZAR Million in January of 2018.

Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 6200.00 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 6500.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the South Africa Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -1542.00 ZAR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.

South Africa Balance of Trade
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Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2019-02-28 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR -13.08B ZAR16.70B ZAR-12.8B ZAR -23B
2019-03-29 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR3.99B ZAR-13.07B ZAR2B ZAR 3.6B
2019-04-30 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR5B ZAR3.87B ZAR4.8B ZAR 6.2B
2019-05-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR-3.43B ZAR4.7B ZAR1.25B ZAR 1.4B
2019-06-28 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR-3.43B ZAR1.25B ZAR 2.0B
2019-07-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR 6.2B
2019-08-30 12:00 PM Balance of Trade



South Africa Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in April

South Africa posted a trade gap of ZAR 3.43 billion in April 2019 compared to a downwardly revised ZAR 4.70 billion surplus in the prior month and against market expectations of a ZAR 1.25 billion surplus. Exports fell 1.3 percent while imports soared 6.8 percent.

Exports decreased 1.3 percent month-over-month to ZAR 103.75 billion in April 2019, as sales fell for precious metals & stones (-14 percent); chemical products (-9 percent) and vegetable products (-11 percent). In contrast, shipments rose for vehicles & transport equipments (9 percent) and base metals (7 percent). The most important export partners were China (10.8 percent of total sales), Germany (8 percent), the US (6.9 percent), the UK (5.7 percent) and India (5.6 percent).

Imports climbed 6.8 percent from a month earlier to ZAR 107.18 billion, fuelled by purchases of machinery & electronics (18 percent); plastics & rubber (24 percent) and minereal products (5 percent). On the other hand, imports declined for original equipment components (-12 percent) and vehicles & transport equipments (-10 percent). Main import partners were China (17.8 percent of total purchases), Germany (9.8 percent), the US (6.5 percent), Nigeria (6.2 percent) and India (4.8 percent).

Excluding trade with neighbouring Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, the country's trade gap widened to ZAR 11.18 billion from an upwardly revised ZAR 2.79 billion in the previous month. Exports dropped 0.7 percent to ZAR 92.63 billion while imports surged 8 percent to ZAR 103.82 billion.


South African Revenue Service | Luisa Carvalho | luisa.carvalho@tradingeconomics.com
5/31/2019 4:26:28 PM


News

South Africa Trade Surplus Widens in March
South Africa trade surplus rose to ZAR 5.00 billion in March 2019 from a downwardly revised ZAR 3.87 billion in the prior month and beating market expectations of a ZAR 4.8 billion surplus. Exports surged 7.5 percent while imports advanced at a slower 6.6 percent.
Published on 2019-04-30

South Africa Trade Balance Swings to Surplus in February
South Africa trade balance shifted to a ZAR 3.99 billion in February 2019 from a ZAR 13.08 billion in the previous month and beating market expectations of a ZAR 2 billion surplus. Considering the first two months of the year, the country posted a trade shortfall of ZAR 9.08 billion.
Published on 2019-03-29

South Africa Posts Widest Trade Gap in a Year
South Africa recorded a trade gap of ZAR 13.1 billion in January 2019 compared to a downwardly revised ZAR 16.70 billion surplus in the prior month and market expectations of a ZAR 12.8 billion deficit. It is the largest trade shortfall since January 2018.
Published on 2019-02-28

South Africa Posts Largest Trade Surplus Since 2016
South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 17.2 billion in December 2018 compared to a downwardly revised 3.29 billion surplus in the prior month and beating market expectations of a ZAR 9.0 billion surplus. It is the widest trade surplus since May 2016, as imports fell faster than exports. In 2018, the country posted a trade surplus of ZAR 11.3 billion compared to a ZAR 76.7 billion surplus in the previous year.
Published on 2019-01-31



South Africa Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade -3427.45 4705.47 17164.95 -26959.20 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account -142495.00 -110158.00 15627.00 -246452.00 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -3.50 -2.50 6.00 -7.50 percent [+]
Imports 107177.86 100389.58 125734.02 66.10 ZAR Million [+]
Exports 103750.40 105095.05 119964.34 55.80 ZAR Million [+]
External Debt 172384.00 168147.00 183239.00 33262.00 USD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 1301855.00 1205901.00 1598893.00 37430.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 125.30 125.30 183.51 123.48 Tonnes [+]
Terms Of Trade 107.10 102.30 109.50 42.20 Index Points [+]
Terrorism Index 4.26 4.09 4.26 0.22 [+]
Weapons Sales 149.00 103.00 235.00 1.00 USD Million [+]
Crude Oil Production 1.00 1.00 58.00 1.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 1854.00 1885.00 2101.00 1.00 ZAR Billion [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



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. 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 - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-3427.45 4705.47 17164.95 -26959.20 1957 - 2019 ZAR Million Monthly




Country Last Previous
Argentina 1131.00 Apr/19
Australia 4871.00 Apr/19
Brazil 6422.00 May/19
Canada -966.20 Apr/19
China 416.58 May/19
Euro Area 15671.60 Apr/19
France -4981.00 Apr/19
Germany 17900.00 Apr/19
India -15360.00 May/19
Indonesia -2501.90 Apr/19
Italy 2884.57 Apr/19
Japan -967.11 May/19
Mexico 1370.00 Apr/19
Netherlands 4154.00 Apr/19
Russia 13705.00 Apr/19
Saudi Arabia 180059.00 Dec/18
Singapore 3962.64 May/19
South Africa -3427.45 Apr/19
South Korea 2271.00 May/19
Spain -2352600.00 Mar/19
Switzerland 1700.00 May/19
Turkey -2982.01 Apr/19
United Kingdom -2740.00 Apr/19
United States -50791.00 Apr/19


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