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2 November 2021 – South Africa’s trade statistics for September 2021 recording a preliminary trade balance surplus of R22.24 billion attributable to exports of R157.02 billion and imports of R134.78 billion. Exports decreased by R1.57 billion (1.0%) between August and September 2021 and imports increased by R18.47 billion (15.9%) over the same period.
Exports fell 1% on a month-on-month basis to R157.02-billion, while imports increased by 15.9% to R134.79-billion, the South African Revenue Service said.
These statistics include trade data with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN). The year-to-date (01 January to 30 September 2021) preliminary trade balance surplus of R352.21 billion is an improvement from the R167.60 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2020. Exports increased by 16.3% year-on-year whilst imports increased by 31.9% over the same period. Including trade data with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN) The R22.24 billion preliminary trade balance surplus for September 2021 is attributable to exports of R157.02 billion and imports of R134.78 billion.
Exports decreased by R1.57 billion (1.0%) between August and September 2021 and imports increased by R18.47 billion (15.9%) over the same period. Exports for the year-to-date (01 January to 30 September 2021) increased by 37.5% to R1 350.82 billion from R982.12 billion over the same period during 2020. Imports for the year-to-date of R998.61 billion were 22.6% more than the R814.52 billion imports recorded during the same period in 2020.
The preliminary cumulative trade balance surplus for 2021 is R352.21 billion. On a year-on-year basis, the R22.24 billion preliminary trade balance surplus for September 2021 was a deterioration from the R32.86 billion trade balance surplus recorded in September 2020. Exports of R157.02 billion were 16.3% more than the R135.03 billion exports recorded in September 2020. Imports of R134.78 billion were 31.9% more than the R102.17 billion imports recorded in September 2020. August 2021 preliminary trade balance surplus was revised downwards by R0.13 billion due to the ongoing Vouchers of Correction (VOC). The revision was from the preliminary trade balance surplus of R42.40 billion to the revised trade balance surplus of R42.27 billion.
Excluding trade data with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN) The trade data excluding BELN for September 2021 recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R13.40 billion.
Summary
The R13.40 billion preliminary trade balance surplus for September 2021 was as a result of exports of R143.24 billion and imports of R129.84 billion. Exports decreased by R1.29 billion (0.9%) between August and September 2021 and imports increased by R18.20 billion (16.3%) over the same period. The preliminary cumulative trade balance surplus for 2021 was R276.56 billion compared to R105.51 billion trade balance surplus during 2020. Source(StatsSA)