Skip to content 
5 October – South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R20.5 billion in August 2026. This surplus was attributable to exports of R181.8 billion and imports of R161.3 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).
The year-to-date (01 January to 31 August 2026) preliminary trade balance surplus of R149.5 billion was higher than the R96.1 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2025. The year-to-date R149.5 trade balance surplus was driven by exports of R1.45trn and imports of R1.30trn.
On a year-on-year basis, export flows for August 2026 of R181.8 billion were 6.4% higher compared to R170.8 billion recorded in August 2025. Import flows were lower by 4.2%, having decreased from R168.5 billion in August 2025 to R161.3 billion in the current period.
On a month-on-month basis, exports decreased by R11.3 billion (-5.8%) from R193.1 billion in July to R181.8 billion in August 2026, whilst imports decreased by R13.7 billion (-7.8%) from R175.0 billion to R161.3 billion over the same period. Export flows decreased in August 2026 driven by lower exports of platinum group metals (PGMs); gold; and zinc ores and concentrates. Import flows decreased on the back of lower importation of petroleum oils (excluding crude); original equipment components; and automatic data processing machines. Source: SARS. Read more https://www.sars.gov.za/media-release/trade-statistics-for-august-2026/