South Africa Balance of Trade

Last Release

Oct 31, 2025

Actual

15,580

Units In

ZAR Million

22,250

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Dec 31, 2025

Time to Release

1 Months 0 Days 2 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
53,829.82 Mar 2021	-36,052.2 Apr 2020	1,675.92 ZAR Million	1957-2025	South African Revenue Service

In 2017, South Africa recorded the biggest trade deficits with China, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Thailand, France, Nigeria, Italy and Brazil and the biggest trade surpluses with Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Belgium and Netherlands.

Latest Updates

South Africa's trade surplus shrank to ZAR 15.6 billion in October 2025 from an upwardly revised ZAR 22.3 billion in the prior month. Imports jumped by 7.2% over a month to ZAR 176.6 billion, on account of mineral products (+15%), namely crude oil; precious metals & stones (+29%); original equipment components (+18%); base metals (+18%) and vehicles transport equipment (+8%). Imports increased from Africa (+20%) and Asia (+12.4%), but fell from Europe (-3.5%) and the Americas (-1.2%). Meanwhile, exports rose at a slower 2.8% to ZAR 192.2 billion, mainly boosted by shipments of precious metals & stones (+21%), of which gold, diamonds, and unwrought aluminium; and base metals (+21%). Conversely, exports declined sharply for vegetable products (-35%). Overseas sales went up to Africa (+8.3%), but decreased to all other destinations including the Americas (-7.9%), Asia (-2.6%), Europe (-4.1%) and Oceania (-10.2%).