South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 3.5 billion in April 2023, below market estimates of ZAR 4.95 billion and a downwardly revised ZAR 6.3 billion in the prior month. Exports tumbled 14.5% over a month earlier to ZAR 163 billion, mainly on lower shipments of precious metals & stones (-30%); machinery & electronics (-22%); base metals (-14%) and vegetable products (-14%). Among trading partners, overseas sales decreased to Europe (-15.9%), Africa (-13.4%), Asia (-12%) and America (-7.6%) but rose to Oceania (+2.5%). Meanwhile, imports fell at a slower 13.5% to ZAR 160.3 billion, amid sharp declines in purchases of mineral products (-34%); vehicles & transport equipment (-25%); wood pulp & paper (-30%) and chemical products (-12%). Among trading partners, acquisitions were reduced from Asia (-10.1%), Africa (-33.6%), Europe (-17.4%) and Oceania (-11%), but increased from America (+2.3%). source: South African Revenue Service

Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 1239.59 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2023, reaching an all time high of 52735.69 ZAR Million in March of 2021 and a record low of -36051.45 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 June of 2023.

Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be -16000.00 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 1000.00 ZAR Million in 2024 and 35000.00 ZAR Million in 2025, according to our econometric models.

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South Africa Balance of Trade



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2023-04-28 12:00 PM Mar ZAR6.89B ZAR10.71B ZAR25B ZAR 20.0B
2023-05-31 12:00 PM Apr ZAR3.54B ZAR6.30B ZAR4.95B ZAR5B
2023-06-30 12:00 PM May ZAR3.54B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 3540.00 6300.00 ZAR Million Apr 2023
Imports 160277.83 185381.93 ZAR Million Apr 2023
Exports 163818.11 191681.98 ZAR Million Apr 2023

South Africa Balance of Trade
In 2021, South Africa recorded a trade surplus for the fifth consecutive year. The top exports of South Africa are mineral products; base metals and articles of base metal; vehicles and aircraft vessels and machinery (6.8 percent), shipped primarily to China, the United States and Germany. The top imports of South Africa are machinery, mineral products, chemicals and vehicles & transport equipment, sourced mainly from China, India and the United States.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3540.00 6300.00 52735.69 -36051.45 1957 - 2023 ZAR Million Monthly

News Stream
South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows More than Expected
South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 3.5 billion in April 2023, below market estimates of ZAR 4.95 billion and a downwardly revised ZAR 6.3 billion in the prior month. Exports tumbled 14.5% over a month earlier to ZAR 163 billion, mainly on lower shipments of precious metals & stones (-30%); machinery & electronics (-22%); base metals (-14%) and vegetable products (-14%). Among trading partners, overseas sales decreased to Europe (-15.9%), Africa (-13.4%), Asia (-12%) and America (-7.6%) but rose to Oceania (+2.5%). Meanwhile, imports fell at a slower 13.5% to ZAR 160.3 billion, amid sharp declines in purchases of mineral products (-34%); vehicles & transport equipment (-25%); wood pulp & paper (-30%) and chemical products (-12%). Among trading partners, acquisitions were reduced from Asia (-10.1%), Africa (-33.6%), Europe (-17.4%) and Oceania (-11%), but increased from America (+2.3%).
2023-05-31
South Africa Trade Surplus Unexpectedly Shrinks
South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 6.9 billion in March 2023, below market estimates of ZAR 25 billion and a downwardly revised ZAR 10.7 billion in the prior month. Imports surged 31.7% over a month to a record high of ZAR 185.3 billion, mainly boosted by purchases of mineral products (+75%); machinery & electronics (29%); base metals (+30%) and vehicles & transport equipment (+30%). Top import partners were China (18.5% of total arrivals), Germany (8%) and the US (7.6%). Meanwhile, exports advanced at a slower 26.9% to an all-time high of ZAR 192.2 billion, primarily driven by shipments of precious metals & stones (+57%); base metals (+33%); mineral products (+19%) and machinery & electronics (+26%). Top export partners were China (10.5% of total dispatches), followed by the US (7.5%) and Germany (6.5%).
2023-04-28
South Africa Posts Surprise Trade Surplus in February
South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 16.1 billion in February 2023, swinging from a downwardly revised deficit of ZAR 22.7 billion in the prior month and against market forecasts of a 14.3 billion shortfall. This was the widest trade surplus since last September, as exports jumped by 10.7% over a month to ZAR 14.90 billion, mainly boosted by shipments of vehicles & transport equipment (+100%); machinery & electronics (+21%) and prepared foodstuff (+23%). Conversely, imports tumbled by 14.8% to a near one-year low of ZAR 23.95 billion, amid lower acquisitions in all categories, notably mineral products (-29%) and machinery & electronics (-14%).
2023-03-31