South Africa's trade surplus rose to ZAR 20.5 billion in August 2026, the largest since March, from a downwardly revised ZAR 18 billion in the prior month. Imports fell 7.8% to a five-month low of ZAR 161.3 billion, amid broad-based declines across the five key import categories. Lower purchases were seen for original equipment components (-20%); chemical products (-16%); vehicles & transport equipments (-8%); machinery & electronics (-5%) and mineral products (-4%). Meanwhile, exports dropped by 5.8% to ZAR 182 billion, reflecting reduced shipments of vegetable products (-9%); mineral products (-9%); precious metals and stones (-9%), particularly platinum group metals (PGMs), gold; and zinc ores and concentrates; and machinery & electronics (-3%) source: South African Revenue Service

South Africa recorded a trade surplus of 20470 ZAR Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 1868.28 ZAR Million from 1957 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 52741.21 ZAR Million in March of 2021 and a record low of -36126.73 ZAR Million in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. South Africa Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

South Africa recorded a trade surplus of 20470 ZAR Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 27000.00 ZAR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 17000.00 ZAR Million in 2027 and 8300.00 ZAR Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-31 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Jul ZAR20.14B ZAR17.23B ZAR19.0B
2026-09-30 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Aug ZAR20.47B ZAR18.04B ZAR 3.5B
2026-10-30 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Sep ZAR20.47B ZAR 25.4B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 20470.00 18040.00 ZAR Million Aug 2026
Current Account -205467.00 181556.00 ZAR Million Jun 2026
Current Account to GDP -0.50 -0.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 181796.18 193967.30 ZAR Million Aug 2026
Exports by Category
Exports by Country
External Debt 206680.00 196490.00 USD Million Jun 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 49800.00 20300.00 ZAR Million Jun 2026
Gold Reserves 125.50 125.50 Tonnes Jun 2026
Imports 161323.14 175039.96 ZAR Million Aug 2026
Imports by Category
Imports by Country
Terms of Trade 112.70 122.90 points Jun 2026
Terrorism Index 0.00 0.00 Points Dec 2025
Tourist Arrivals 1304763.00 1273663.00 Aug 2026
Weapons Sales 115.00 96.00 SIPRI TIV Million Dec 2025


South Africa Balance of Trade
In 2021, South Africa recorded a trade surplus for the fifth consecutive year. The top exports of South Africa are mineral products; base metals and articles of base metal; vehicles and aircraft vessels and machinery (6.8 percent), shipped primarily to China, the United States and Germany. The top imports of South Africa are machinery, mineral products, chemicals and vehicles & transport equipment, sourced mainly from China, India and the United States.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
20470.00 18040.00 52741.21 -36126.73 1957 - 2026 ZAR Million Monthly

News Stream
South Africa Logs Widest Trade Surplus in 5 Months
South Africa's trade surplus rose to ZAR 20.5 billion in August 2026, the largest since March, from a downwardly revised ZAR 18 billion in the prior month. Imports fell 7.8% to a five-month low of ZAR 161.3 billion, amid broad-based declines across the five key import categories. Lower purchases were seen for original equipment components (-20%); chemical products (-16%); vehicles & transport equipments (-8%); machinery & electronics (-5%) and mineral products (-4%). Meanwhile, exports dropped by 5.8% to ZAR 182 billion, reflecting reduced shipments of vegetable products (-9%); mineral products (-9%); precious metals and stones (-9%), particularly platinum group metals (PGMs), gold; and zinc ores and concentrates; and machinery & electronics (-3%).
2026-09-30
South Africa Posts Widest Trade Surplus in 4 Months
South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 20.1 billion in July 2026, the largest since March, up from a revised ZAR 17.2 billion in the prior month. Exports rose by 0.8% month-over-month to ZAR 194 billion, as higher shipments of machinery & electronics (18%); mineral products (14%); vegetable products (12%) and vehicles & transport equipment (8%) were partly offset by a 21% decline in precious metals & stones. Overseas sales increased for Africa (8.6%), Europe (8.7%) and Oceania (6.6%) but fell to the Americas (-9%) and Asia (-2.3%). Meanwhile, imports fell by 0.8% to ZAR 173.8 billion, on reduced purchases of mineral products (-32%). Conversely, imports rose significantly for vehicles & transport equipment (28%); chemical products (14%); original equipment components (14%) and base metals (10%). By origin, imports from Africa dropped 30.8%, while those from Oceania and Asia fell 9.9% and 1.3%, respectively, contrasting with increases from the Americas (25.4%) and Europe (8.9%).
2026-08-31
South Africa Trade Surplus Widens in June
South Africa's trade surplus widened to ZAR 17.75 billion in June 2026 from an upwardly revised ZAR 4.44 billion in the previous month, as exports increased while imports declined. Exports rose 4.3% to ZAR 193.6 billion, driven by higher shipments of vehicles and transport equipment (16%), chemical products (6%), prepared foodstuffs (6%), and precious metals and stones (2%). Meanwhile, imports fell 2.9% to ZAR 175.8 billion, reflecting lower purchases of mineral products (-15%), vehicles and transport equipment (-12%), and original equipment components (-6%). Despite the monthly improvement, the trade surplus was smaller than the ZAR 20.96 billion surplus recorded in the same month a year earlier.
2026-07-31