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South Africa Merchandise Trade Statistics for August 2015

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South Africa Merchandise Trade Statistics for August 2015

South Africa Merchandise Trade Statistics for August 2015
Photo credit: Media Club South Africa

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released trade statistics for August 2015 that recorded a trade deficit of R9.95 billion. This figure includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS).

Including trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)

The R9.95 billion deficit for August 2015 is due to exports of R87.63 billion and imports of R97.58 billion. Exports decreased from July 2015 to August 2015 by R5.45 billion (5.9%) and imports increased from July 2015 to August 2015 by R3.38 billion (3.6%).

The cumulative deficit for 2015 is R36.27 billion compared to R69.94 billion in 2014.

The month of July 2015 trade balance was revised downwards by R0.72 billion from the previous month’s preliminary deficit of R0.40 billion to a revised deficit of R1.11 billion.

Trade highlights by category

The month-on-month export movements:

R’ million  
Section: Including BLNS:
Mineral Products - R4 205 - 20.1%
Base Metals - R2 464 - 20.0%
Precious Metals & Stones + R1 120 + 7.3%
Vehicle & Transport Equipment + R 382 + 3.4%
Wood and articles thereof + R 176 + 41.2%

The month-on-month import movements:

R’ million  
Section: Including BLNS:
Vehicle & Transport Equipment + R2 027 + 22.1%
Mineral Products + R1 758 + 12.1%
Chemical Products + R1 248 + 12.4%
Equipment Components - R 743 - 9.4%
Base Metals - R 681 - 12.8%

Trade highlights by world zone

The world zone results from July 2015 to August 2015 are given below.

Africa:

Exports: R26 195 million – this is a decrease of R 0.28 million from July 2015

Imports: R10 865 million – this is an increase of R1 106 million from July 2015

Trade surplus: R15 330 million – This is a 6.9% decrease in comparison to the R16 464 million surplus recorded in July 2015.

America:

Exports: R8 015 million – this is a decrease of R1 099 million from July 2015

Imports: R10 947 million – this is an increase of R 941 million from July 2015

Trade deficit: R2 932 million – This is an increase in comparison to the R 892 million deficit recorded in July 2015.

Asia:

Exports: R24 773 million – this is a decrease of R3 111 million from July 2015

Imports: R43 883 million – this is an increase of R1 599 million from July 2015

Trade deficit: R19 110 million – This is a 32.7% increase in comparison to the R14 399 million deficit recorded in July 2015.

Europe:

Exports: R21 371 million – this is a decrease of R 720 million from July 2015

Imports: R30 502 million – this is a decrease of R 332 million from July 2015

Trade deficit: R9 131 million – This is a 4.4% increase in comparison to the R8 743 million deficit recorded in July 2015.

Oceania:

Exports: R1 164 million – this is a decrease of R 162 million from July 2015

Imports: R1 300 million – this is an increase of R 203 million from July 2015

Trade deficit: R 135 million – This is a deterioration compared to the R 229 million surplus recorded in July 2015.


Excluding trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)

The trade data excluding BLNS for August 2015 recorded a trade deficit of R19.07 billion. The deficit is as a result of exports of R75.93 billion and imports of R95.00 billion. Exports decreased from July 2015 to August 2015 by R5.83 billion (7.1%) and imports increased from July 2015 to August 2015 by R3.31 billion (3.6%).

The cumulative deficit for 2015 is R105.59 billion compared to R135.91 billion in 2014.

Trade highlights by category

The month-on-month export movements:

R’ million  
Section: Excluding BLNS:
Mineral Products - R4 131 - 21.8%
Base Metals - R2 365 - 20.7%
Vehicle & Transport Equipment + R 434 + 4.5%
Precious Metals & Stones + R 282 + 1.9%
Wood and articles thereof + R 189 + 71.3%

The month-on-month import movements:

R’ million  
Section: Excluding BLNS:
Vehicle & Transport Equipment + R2 019 + 22.0%
Mineral Products + R1 760 + 12.2%
Chemical Products + R1 239 + 12.9%
Equipment Components - R 743 - 9.4%
Base Metals - R 677 - 12.9%

Trade highlights by world zone

The world zone results from July 2015 to August 2015 are given below.

Africa:

Exports: R14 495 million – this is a decrease of R 405 million from July 2015

Imports: R8 286 million – this is an increase of R1 039 million from July 2015

Trade surplus: R6 209 million – This is an 18.9% decrease in comparison to the R7 654 million surplus recorded in July 2015.


Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (Only)

Trade statistics with the BLNS for August 2015 recorded a trade surplus of R9.12 billion. The surplus is as a result of exports of R11.70 billion and imports of R2.58 billion. Exports increased from July 2015 to August 2015 by R0.38 billion (3.3%) and imports increased from July 2015 to August 2015 by R0.07 billion (2.7%).

The cumulative surplus for 2015 is R69.32 billion compared to R65.98 billion in 2014.

The month-on-month export movements:

R’ million  
Section: BLNS:
Precious Metals & Stones + R 837 + 4812.3%
Base Metals - R 99 - 11.4%
Chemical Products - R 96 - 9.1%
Mineral Products - R 74 - 3.8%
Vehicle & Transport Equipment - R 52 - 3.7%

The month-on-month import movements:

R’ million  
Section: BLNS:
Precious Metals & Stones + R 60 + 25.6%
Machinery and Electronics  + R 28 + 10.8%
Live Animals - R 19 - 5.8%
Raw Hides & Leather - R 14 - 37.0%
Plastics & Rubber - R 10 - 25.5%

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