News
South Africa Merchandise Trade Statistics for October 2015
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released trade statistics for October 2015 that recorded a trade deficit of R21.39 billion. This figure includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS).
Including trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)
The R21.39 billion deficit for October 2015 is due to exports of R86.35 billion and imports of R107.74 billion. Exports decreased from September 2015 to October 2015 by R5.49 billion (6.0%) and imports increased from September 2015 to October 2015 by R14.64 billion (15.7%).
The R21.39 billion deficit is 1.8% less than the deficit recorded in October 2014 of R21.79 billion. Exports of R86.35 billion are 2.4% less than the exports recorded in October 2014 of R88.47 billion. Imports of R107.74 billion are 2.3% less than the imports recorded in October 2014 of R110.26 billion.
The cumulative deficit for 2015 of R59.39 billion is 37.6% less than the deficit for the comparable period in 2014 of R95.14 billion.
The month of September 2015 trade balance deficit was revised upwards by R0.38 billion from the previous month’s preliminary deficit of R0.89 billion to a revised deficit of R1.26 billion.
Trade highlights by category
The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Including BLNS: | |
| Precious Metals & Stones | - R3 070 | - 19.3% |
| Vegetable Products | - R1 817 | - 35.7% |
| Mineral Products | - R1 238 | - 6.5% |
| Vehicle & Transport Equipment | - R1 069 | - 8.7% |
| Machinery & Electronics | + R 505 | + 5.7% |
The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Including BLNS: | |
| Machinery & Electronics | + R 4 595 | + 19.2% |
| Vehicle & Transport Equipment | + R3 658 | + 45.1% |
| Mineral Products | + R2 007 | + 17.1% |
| Chemical Products | + R1 598 | + 15.8% |
| Vegetable Products | - R1 421 | - 44.8% |
Trade highlights by world zone
The world zone results from October 2015 to October 2015 are given below.
Africa:
Trade surplus: R16 502 million – This is a 16.8% decrease in comparison to the R19 843 million surplus recorded in September 2015.
America:
Trade deficit: R3 470 million – This is a 79.2% increase in comparison to the R1 936 million deficit recorded in September 2015.
Asia:
Trade deficit: R23 640 million – This is a 25.8% increase in comparison to the R18 793 million deficit recorded in September 2015.
Europe:
Trade deficit: R15 033 million – This is a 131.6% increase in comparison to the R6 490 million deficit recorded in September 2015.
Oceania:
Trade deficit: R 201 million – This is a deterioration compared to the R 79 million surplus recorded in September 2015.
Excluding trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)
The trade data excluding BLNS for October 2015 recorded a trade deficit of R31.22 billion. The deficit is a result of exports of R73.66 billion and imports of R104.88 billion. Exports decreased from September 2015 to October 2015 by R5.95 billion (7.5%) and imports increased from September 2015 to October 2015 by R14.78 billion (16.4%).
The cumulative deficit for 2015 is R147.75 billion compared to R180.63 billion in 2014.
Trade highlights by category
The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Excluding BLNS: | |
| Precious Metals & Stones | - R2 953 | - 19.4% |
| Vegetable Products | - R1 872 | - 40.9% |
| Mineral Products | - R1 224 | - 7.1% |
| Vehicles & Transport Equipment | - R 885 | - 8.1% |
| Machinery & Electronics | + R 351 | + 5.0% |
The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):
| Section: | Excluding BLNS: | |
| Machinery & Electronics | + R4 613 | + 19.5% |
| Vehicle & Transport Equipment | + R3 672 | + 45.5% |
| Mineral Products | + R2 018 | + 17.3% |
| Chemical Products | + R1 559 | + 16.6% |
| Vegetable Products | - R1 422 | - 45.4% |
Trade highlights by world zone
The world zone results other than Africa from September 2015 to October 2015 are given above.
Africa:
Trade surplus: R6 677 million – This is a 37.1% decrease in comparison to the R10 611 million surplus recorded in September 2015.
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (Only)
Trade statistics with the BLNS for October 2015 recorded a trade surplus of R9.83 billion. The surplus is a result of exports of R12.69 billion and imports of R2.86 billion. Exports increased from September 2015 to October 2015 by R0.45 billion (3.7%) and imports decreased from September 2015 to October 2015 by R0.14 billion (4.6%).
The cumulative surplus for 2015 is R88.36 billion compared to R85.49 billion in 2014.
Trade Highlights by Category
The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):
| Section: | BLNS: | |
| Prepared Foodstuff | + R 162 | + 14.3% |
| Machinery & Electronics | + R 154 | + 8.8% |
| Base Metals | + R 101 | + 13.0% |
| Vehicles & Transport Equipment | - R 183 | - 12.8% |
| Precious Metals & Stones | - R 117 | - 17.2% |
The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):
| Section: | BLNS: | |
| Precious Metals & Stones | - R 238 | - 65.2% |
| Base Metals | - R 22 | - 29.8% |
| Textiles | + R 83 | + 19.5% |
| Chemical Products | + R 39 | + 5.6% |
| Prepared Foodstuff | + R 21 | + 5.1% |
