The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released trade statistics for November 2015 that recorded a trade surplus of R1.77 billion. This figure includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS).

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

The R1.77 billion surplus for November 2015 is due to exports of R94.66 billion and imports of R92.89 billion. Exports increased from October 2015 to November 2015 by R8.86 billion (10.3%) and imports decreased from October 2015 to November 2015 by R14.51 billion (13.5%).

The R1.77 billion surplus is an improvement on the deficit recorded in November 2014 of R5.34 billion. Exports of R94.66 billion are 12.6% more than the exports recorded in November 2014 of R84.08 billion. Imports of R92.89 billion are 3.9% more than the imports recorded in November 2014 of R89.42 billion.

The cumulative deficit for 2015 of R58.18 billion is 42.1% less than the deficit for the comparable period in 2014 of R100.48 billion.

The month of October 2015 trade balance deficit was revised upwards by R0.21 billion from the previous month’s preliminary deficit of R21.39 billion to a revised deficit of R21.60 billion.

Trade highlights by category

The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):

The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):

Trade highlights by world zone

The world zone results from October 2015 to November 2015 are given below.

Africa:

Trade surplus: R16 735 million – This is a 1.8% increase in comparison to the R16 445 million surplus recorded in October 2015.

America:

Trade surplus: R 94 million – This is an improvement in comparison to the R3 429 million deficit recorded in October 2015.

Asia:

Trade deficit: R16 833 million – This is a 29.1% decrease in comparison to the R23 754 million deficit recorded in October 2015.

Europe:

Trade deficit: R8 605 million – This is a 43.1% decrease in comparison to the R15 111 million deficit recorded in October 2015.

Oceania:

Trade deficit: R 49 million – This is a 75.6% decrease in comparison to the R 202 million deficit recorded in October 2015.

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

The trade data excluding BLNS for November 2015 recorded a trade deficit of R7.45 billion, a result of exports of R82.31 billion and imports of R89.76 billion.

Exports increased from October 2015 to November 2015 by R9.17 billion (12.5%) and imports decreased from October 2015 to November 2015 by R14.78 billion (14.1%).

The cumulative deficit for 2015 is R155.74 billion compared to R196.53 billion in 2014.

Trade highlights by category

The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):

The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):

Trade highlights by world zone

The world zone results other than Africa from October 2015 to November 2015 are given above.

Africa:

Trade surplus: R7 513 million – This is a 13.0% increase in comparison to the R6 648 million surplus recorded in October 2015.

Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (Only)

Trade Statistics with BLNS countries Trade statistics with the BLNS for November 2015 recorded a trade surplus of R9.22 billion, a result of exports of R12.35 billion and imports of R3.13 billion.

Exports decreased from October 2015 to November 2015 by R0.31 billion (2.4%) and imports increased from October 2015 to November 2015 by R0.27 billion (9.3%).

The cumulative surplus for 2015 is R97.56 billion compared to R96.06 billion in 2014.

Trade highlights by category

The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):

The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):