News
South Africa Merchandise Trade Statistics for September 2015
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) on 30 October released trade statistics for September 2015 that recorded a trade deficit of R0.89 billion. This figure includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS).
Including trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)
The R0.89 billion deficit for September 2015 is due to exports of R92.28 billion and imports of R93.17 billion. Exports increased from August 2015 to September 2015 by R4.86 billion (5.6%) and imports decreased from August 2015 to September 2015 by R4.39 billion (4.5%).
The cumulative deficit for 2015 is R37.35 billion compared to R73.37 billion in 2014.
The month of August 2015 trade balance deficit was revised upwards by R0.19 billion from the previous month’s preliminary deficit of R9.95 billion to a revised deficit of R10.14 billion.
September 2015 Overview
| EXPORTS | IMPORTS |
| R 92,284,169,052 | R 93,169,251,211 |
| Trade Deficit: R -885,082,159 | |
| Top 5 countries we exported to: | Top 5 countries we imported from: |
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Trade highlights by category
The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Excluding BLNS: | |
| Mineral Products | + R2 627 | + 15.8% |
| Vehicle & Transport Equipment | + R1 242 | + 10.9% |
| Chemical Products | + R855 | + 16.4% |
| Precious Metals & Stones | - R 421 | - 2.6% |
| Vegetable Products | - R 614 | - 10.7% |
The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Excluding BLNS: | |
| Mineral Products | - R 4 530 | - 27.8% |
| Vehicle & Transport Equipment | - R3 107 | - 27.7% |
| Chemical Products | - R1 184 | - 10.5% |
| Vegetable Products | + R1 233 | + 62.3% |
| Machinery & Electronics | + R1 028 | + 4.5% |
Trade highlights by world zone
The world zone results from August 2015 to September 2015 are given below.
Africa:
Trade surplus: R19 960 million – This is a 30.5% increase in comparison to the R15 293 million surplus recorded in August 2015.
America:
Trade deficit: R1 732 million – This is a 41.3% decrease in comparison to the R2 950 million deficit recorded in August 2015.
Asia:
Trade deficit: R18 624 million – This is a 2.6% decrease in comparison to the R19 114 million deficit recorded in August 2015.
Europe:
Trade deficit: R6 610 million – This is a 28.6% decrease in comparison to the R9 261 million deficit recorded in August 2015.
Oceania:
Trade surplus: R 79 million – This is an improvement compared to the R 136 million deficit recorded in August 2015.
Excluding trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)
The trade data excluding BLNS for September 2015 recorded a trade deficit of R10.12 billion, with exports of R80.05 billion and imports of R90.17 billion. Exports increased from August 2015 to September 2015 by R4.31 billion (5.7%) and imports decreased from August 2015 to September 2015 by R4.81 billion (5.1%).
The cumulative deficit for 2015 is R115.89 billion compared to R149.02 billion in 2014.
Trade highlights by category
The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Excluding BLNS: | |
| Mineral Products | + R2 556 | + 17.3% |
| Vehicles & Transport Equipment | + R1 163 | + 11.6% |
| Chemical Products | + R 715 | + 16.7% |
| Base Metals | + R 256 | + 2.8% |
| Vegetable Product | - R 607 | - 11.7% |
The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Excluding BLNS: | |
| Mineral Products | - R4 550 | - 28.0% |
| Vehicles & Transport Equipment | - R3 129 | - 28.0% |
| Chemical Products | - R1 428 | - 13.2% |
| Vegetable Product | + R1 235 | + 63.7% |
| Machinery & Electronics | + R1 006 | + 4.5% |
Trade highlights by world zone
The world zone results from August 2015 to September 2015 are given below.
Africa:
Trade surplus: R10 725 million – This is a 73.5% increase in comparison to the R6 183 million surplus recorded in August 2015.
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (Only)
Trade statistics with the BLNS for September 2015 recorded a trade surplus of R9.23 billion, with exports of R12.24 billion and imports of R3.00 billion. Exports increased from August 2015 to September 2015 by R0.55 billion (4.7%) and imports increased from August 2015 to September 2015 by R0.42 billion (16.4%).
The cumulative surplus for 2015 is R78.54 billion compared to R75.65 billion in 2014.
Trade Highlights by Category
The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):
| Section: | BLNS: | |
| Chemical Products | + R 140 | + 14.7% |
| Prepared Foodstuff | + R 129 | + 12.8% |
| Vehicles & Transport Equipment | + R 79 | + 5.8% |
| Mineral Products | + R 71 | + 3.8% |
| Precious Metals & Stones | - R 171 | - 20.0% |
The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):
| Section: | BLNS: | |
| Chemical Products | + R 244 | + 53.3% |
| Precious Metals & Stones | + R 72 | + 24.6% |
| Textiles | + R 69 | + 19.4% |
| Vehicles & Transport Equipment | + R 22 | + 111.7% |
| Live Animals | - R 32 | - 10.1% |
