Pretoria, 28 February 2013 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for January 2013 that record a trade deficit of R24.53 billion.
Summary
The R24.53 billion deficit for January 2013 arose from exports of R53.28 billion and imports of R77.80 billion.
Exports decreased from December to January by R6.51 billion (-10.9%) and imports increased from December to January by R15.31 billion (24.5%).
The increased trade deficit of R24.53 billion in January 2013 from R2.70 billion in December 2012 was due to increased imports of machinery and electrical appliances, mineral products, base metals, chemical products, plastics and rubber, textile and textile articles, and original equipment components. Exports decreased in precious & semi-precious metals, machinery and electronics, vehicles, vessels and aircraft.
Trade Highlights by Category
The December to January change (down by 10.9%) in exports of goods reflected decreases mainly in:
Precious and semi-precious stones and metals decreased by R2 720 million (-19%);
Machinery and electrical appliances decreased by R1 544 million (-28%);
Vehicles, aircraft and vessels decreased by R2 538 million (-39%);
The December to January change (up by 24.5%) in imports of goods reflected increases mainly in:
Mineral products increased by R1 825 million (11%);
Products of the chemicals or allied industries increased by R1 195 million (20%);
Plastics and rubber and articles thereof increased by R1 121 million (53%);
Textile and textile articles increased by R 821 million (53%);
Base metals and articles thereof increased by R1 477 million (63%);
Machinery and electrical appliances increased by R5 036 million (35%);
Original equipment components increased by R2 095 million (84%);
Trade Highlights by World Zone
The world zone results for December 2012 and January 2013 as given below are unaudited.
Asia: The deficit increased from R 8.81bn in December 2012 to R 18.73bn in January 2013. Exports decreased by R 2.63bn to R 18.05bn and imports increased by R 7.29bn to R36.79bn.
Europe: The deficit increased from R 4.10bn in December 2012 to R 9.70bn in January 2013. Exports increased by R 1.60bn to R 14.80bn and imports increased by R 7.20bn to R 24.50bn.
America: The deficit increased from R 0.4bn surplus in December 2012 to a deficit of R 2.47bn in January 2013. Exports decreased by R 2.30bn to R 5.75bn and imports increased by R 0.62bn to R 8.21bn.
Africa: The surplus decreased from R 4.10bn in in December 2012 to R 1.80bn in January 2013. Exports decreased by R 2.03bn to R 9.02bn and imports increased by R 0.30bn to R 7.25bn.
Oceania: The deficit decreased from R 0.50bn in December 2012 to R 0.42bn in January 2013. Exports decreased by R 0.05bn to R 0.50bn and imports decreased by R 0.08bn to R 1.00bn.
For more detail, visit the SARS website, www.sars.gov.za; Customs and Excise; Trade Statistics.
SA Trade Release Table
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