South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 36.9 billion in February 2026, significantly higher than the downwardly revised ZAR 8.5 billion posted in January. Exports climbed by 8.2% month-over-month to ZAR 168.1 billion, boosted by shipments of vehicles & transport equipment (+55%); machinery & electronics (+22%) and base metals (+16%). Overseas sales rose primarily to Oceania (+53.4%), the Americas (+33.1%) and Africa (+17.5%), but declined for Asia (-0.4%). Conversely, imports slipped by 10.7% to a four-year low of ZAR 131.2 billion, reflecting widespread declines across key categories. Purchases fell significantly for vehicles & transport equipment (-2.5%); base metals (-18%); machinery & electronics (-14%); chemical products (-10%) and original equipment components (-9%). Imports decreased mostly from the Americas (-22.5%), Europe (-18.5%) and Oceania (-17.3%), and, to a lesser extent, Asia (-5.9%) and Africa (-4.7%). source: South African Revenue Service

South Africa recorded a trade surplus of 36920 ZAR Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Africa averaged 1756.77 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 April of 2026.

South Africa recorded a trade surplus of 36920 ZAR Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in South Africa is expected to be 22500.00 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 20300.00 ZAR Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-27 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Jan ZAR9.31B ZAR22.38B ZAR -20.0B
2026-03-31 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Feb ZAR36.92B ZAR8.5B ZAR 18.0B
2026-04-30 12:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Mar ZAR36.92B ZAR 13B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 36920.00 8500.00 ZAR Million Feb 2026
Current Account 50169.00 -72028.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Current Account to GDP -0.50 -0.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 168086.00 155325.00 ZAR Million Feb 2026
Exports by Category
Exports by Country
External Debt 200307.00 193047.00 USD Million Dec 2025
Foreign Direct Investment 41300.00 -21000.00 ZAR Million Dec 2025
Gold Reserves 125.50 125.47 Tonnes Dec 2025
Imports 131165.82 146820.82 ZAR Million Feb 2026
Imports by Category
Imports by Country
Terms of Trade 117.20 110.80 points Dec 2025
Terrorism Index 0.00 0.00 Points Dec 2025
Tourist Arrivals 1024787.00 1439386.00 Feb 2026
Weapons Sales 27.00 58.00 SIPRI TIV Million Dec 2024


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
36920.00 8500.00 52741.21 -36126.73 1957 - 2026 ZAR Million Monthly

News Stream
South Africa Trade Surplus Widens in February
South Africa recorded a trade surplus of ZAR 36.9 billion in February 2026, significantly higher than the downwardly revised ZAR 8.5 billion posted in January. Exports climbed by 8.2% month-over-month to ZAR 168.1 billion, boosted by shipments of vehicles & transport equipment (+55%); machinery & electronics (+22%) and base metals (+16%). Overseas sales rose primarily to Oceania (+53.4%), the Americas (+33.1%) and Africa (+17.5%), but declined for Asia (-0.4%). Conversely, imports slipped by 10.7% to a four-year low of ZAR 131.2 billion, reflecting widespread declines across key categories. Purchases fell significantly for vehicles & transport equipment (-2.5%); base metals (-18%); machinery & electronics (-14%); chemical products (-10%) and original equipment components (-9%). Imports decreased mostly from the Americas (-22.5%), Europe (-18.5%) and Oceania (-17.3%), and, to a lesser extent, Asia (-5.9%) and Africa (-4.7%).
2026-03-31
South Africa Posts Smallest Trade Surplus in 5 Months
South Africa's trade surplus fell to ZAR 9.3 billion in January 2026 from the downwardly revised ZAR 22.4 billion in the prior month. It was the smallest trade surplus in five months, as exports slipped by 4.7% over a month to a one-year low of ZAR 155.8 billion. Lower shipments for machinery & electronics (-25%), vehicles & transport equipment (-24%) and chemical products (-24%) outweighed increases observed for vegetable products (29%) and precious metals & stones (11%). Overseas sales declined to Oceania (-42%), Africa (-18.3%), the Americas (-10.9%), Europe (-3.3%) and Asia (-1.5%). Conversely, imports rose by 3.9% to ZAR 146.5 billion, driven by purchases of base metals (30%); original equipment components (21%); vehicles & transport equipment (15%) and mineral products (5%), offsetting a 21% drop in prepared foodstuffs. Imports increased from Africa (45%), the Americas (20%), Oceania (11.9%) and Europe (11.6%), but slipped from Asia (-7.7%).
2026-02-27
South Africa Trade Surplus Narrows in December
South Africa's trade surplus shrank to ZAR 23.2 billion in December 2025 from the upwardly revised ZAR 37.9 billion in the prior month, as exports fell much faster than imports. Exports slipped by 12.5% month-over-month to a ten-month low of ZAR 164.3 billion, mainly due to lower shipments of vehicles & transport equipment (-39%); precious metals & stones (-26%) and base metals (-8%). Meanwhile, imports dropped by 5.8% to ZAR 141.1 billion, as steep declines in purchases of machinery & electronics (-17%); base metals (-11%) and textiles (-11%) outweighed a 21% jump in original equipment components.
2026-01-30