South Africa Balance of Trade

Last Release

Mar 31, 2025

Actual

24,770

Units In

ZAR Million

20,900

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

May 30, 2025

Time to Release

29 Days 5 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
53,829.82 Mar 2021	-36,052.2 Apr 2020	1,549.99 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 widened to ZAR 24.8 billion in March 2025, the largest in four months, from a downwardly revised ZAR 20 billion in the prior month. Exports climbed by 5.7% over a month earlier to ZAR 172.48 billion, largely on account of shipments of other unclassified goods (+467%); mineral products (+18%) and machinery & electronics (+21%). Meanwhile, imports rose at a slower 3.2% to ZAR 147.71 billion, mainly due to higher purchases of animal and vegetable fats (+156%); vehicles & transport equipment (+28%) and original equipment components (+9%).