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. Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 90.30 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 17165.02 ZAR Million in May of 2016 and a record low of -27436.54 ZAR Million in January of 2018.

Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 9500.00 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 16500.00 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
2018-12-28 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR3.49B ZAR-4.29B ZAR-2.25B ZAR 0.21B
2019-01-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade ZAR17.17B ZAR3.29B ZAR9B ZAR 4.7B
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 ZAR3.99B ZAR 9.5B
2019-05-31 12:00 PM Balance of Trade
2019-06-28 12:00 PM Balance of Trade



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.

Exports rose 10.7 percent month-over-month to ZAR 98.14 billion in February 2019, mainly boosted by higher sales of vehicle & transport equipments (126 percent); machinery & electronics (19 percent) and base metals (12 percent). Meanwhile, sales declined for precious metals & stones (-10 percent) and mineral products (-7 percent). The most important export partners were: Germany 9.6 percent of total exports), China (8.8 percent), the US (6.8 percent), Japan (5.3 percent) and India (4.6 percent).

Imports dropped 7.7 percent from a month earlier to ZAR 94.15 billion, mostly due to lower purchases of machinery & electronics (-18 percent); chemical products (-17 percent); base metals (-19 percent) and plastics & rubber (-22 percent). On the other hand, purchases of mineral products increased (14 percent). Main import partners were: China (20.7 percent of total imports), Germany (10.6 percent), the US (6.6 percent), Nigeria (5.4 percent) and India (4.6 percent).

Excluding trade with neighbouring Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, the country recorded a trade gap of ZAR 3.28 billion.


South African Revenue Service | Stefanie Moya | stefanie.moya@tradingeconomics.com
3/29/2019 12:46:29 PM


News

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 Balance Swings to Surplus in November
South Africa trade balance shifted to a ZAR 3.49 billion surplus in November of 2018 from a downwardly revised ZAR 4.29 billion deficit in the previous month and beating market expectations of a ZAR 2.25 billion gap. Considering the January to November period, the country recorded a ZAR 4.16 billion shortfall.
Published on 2018-12-28

South Africa Trade Gap Largest in 9 Months
South Africa trade deficit widened to ZAR 5.55 billion in October of 2018 from a downwardly revised ZAR 3.83 billion in the previous month and compared with market expectations of a ZAR 2.25 billion shortfall. It was the largest trade gap since January, as imports rose faster than exports. Considering the first ten months of the year, the country posted a ZAR 8.82 billion deficit.
Published on 2018-11-30



South Africa Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 3990.00 -13080.00 17165.02 -27436.54 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account -110158.00 -180404.00 15627.00 -246452.00 ZAR Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -2.50 -2.80 6.00 -7.50 percent [+]
Imports 90888.50 98251.36 125818.64 66.10 ZAR Million [+]
Exports 87609.66 77831.69 119949.29 55.80 ZAR Million [+]
External Debt 172384.00 168147.00 183239.00 33262.00 USD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 1205901.00 1561510.00 1598893.00 37430.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 125.30 125.30 183.51 123.48 Tonnes [+]
Terms Of Trade 102.30 105.00 109.50 42.20 Index Points [+]
Terrorism Index 4.26 4.09 4.26 0.22 [+]
Weapons Sales 74.00 65.00 235.00 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 April of 2019.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3990.00 -13080.00 17165.02 -27436.54 1957 - 2019 ZAR Million Monthly




Country Last Previous
Argentina 460.00 Feb/19
Australia 4801.00 Feb/19
Brazil 4990.00 Mar/19
Canada -2894.80 Feb/19
China 326.47 Mar/19
Euro Area 17938.00 Feb/19
France -4002.00 Feb/19
Germany 17900.00 Feb/19
India -10890.00 Mar/19
Indonesia 540.20 Mar/19
Italy 3267.83 Feb/19
Japan 528.50 Mar/19
Mexico 1222.00 Feb/19
Netherlands 5130.00 Feb/19
Russia 15671.00 Feb/19
Saudi Arabia 180059.00 Dec/18
Singapore 3615.50 Mar/19
South Africa 3990.00 Feb/19
South Korea 5222.00 Mar/19
Spain -4483276.00 Jan/19
Switzerland 2494.00 Mar/19
Turkey -2134.33 Feb/19
United Kingdom -4860.00 Feb/19
United States -49382.00 Feb/19


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