Home » Media » Media Releases » 

30 April 2014 – Trade Statistics for March 2014

30 April 2014 – Trade Statistics for March 2014

*Note to all Media – The numbers indicated in RED EXCLUDE trade with BLNS countries, which was how monthly trade statistics were issued previously. The comparative figures in RED are included for the sake of transparency. The inclusion of BLNS country trade data was announced on 14 November 2013 and will be included in all future trade statistics.

Pretoria, 30 April 2014
– The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics that include trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS) for March 2014 that recorded a trade deficit of R11.39 billion [trade deficit R21.16 billion].

Summary

The R11.39 billion deficit for March 2014 [trade deficit R21.16 billion] can be attributed to exports of R80.26 billion [R68.39 billion] and imports of R91.65 billion [R89.55 billion].

Exports decreased from February to March by R2.51 billion (3.0%) [R3.93 billion (5.4%)] and imports increased from February to March by R9.52 billion (11.6%) [R9.65 billion (12.1%)]. The cumulative deficit for 2014 is R27.69 billion [R53.04 billion] compared to R21.61 billion [R40.28 billion] in 2013.


Trade Highlights by Category

  • The February to March change (down by 3.0%) [down by 5.4%] in exports of goods reflected decreases and increases in:
    • Mineral Products decreased by R3 645 million (16.7%) [R3 966 million (19.8%)];
    • Precious Metals & Stones decreased by R 477 million (3.6%) [R992 million (8.1%)];
    • Chemical increased by R 891 million (20.0%) [R 848 million (23.2%)];
    • Machinery & Electronics increased by R 685 million (9.0%) [R 517 million (8.3%)].
  • The February to March change (up by 11.6%) [up by 12.1%] in imports of goods reflected increases and decreases in:
    • Mineral Products increased by R7 150 million (36.9%) [R7 148 million (37.0%)];
    • Machinery & Electronics increased by R2 332 million (13.4%) [R2 355 million (13.6%)];
    • Vegetable Products increased by R 813 million (77.0%) [R 806 million (78.1%)];
    • Vehicle & Transport Equipment increased by R 809 (9.3%) [R 794 million (9.2%)];
    • Equipment Components increased by R 446 million (8.7%) [R 446 million (8.7%)];
    • Textiles decreased by R 790 million (24.5%) [R 774 million (26.2%)];
    • Base Metals decreased by R 735 million (17.2%) [R 738 million (17.6%)];
    • Precious Metals & Stones decreased by R 441 million (32.4%) [R 483 million (48.6%)];
    • Footwear decreased by R 439 million (40.2%) [R 440 million (40.9%)].


Trade Highlights by World Zone  

The world zone results for February 2014 to March 2014 as given below.

  • Africa:  The surplus increased [decreased] from R13 056 million [R4 829 million] in February 2014 to R13 365 million [R3 593 million] in March 2014. Exports increased by R1 785 million [R 365 million] to R25 799 million [R13 926 million] and imports increased by R1 476 million [R1 601 million] to R12 434 million [R10 333 million].
  • America:  The deficit increased from R772 million in February 2014 to R 2 259 million in March 2014. Exports decreased by R1 086 million to R7 049 million and imports increased by R 401 million to R9 309 million.
  • Asia:  The deficit increased from R11 434 million in February 2014 to R17 467 million in March 2014. Exports decreased by R3 366 million to R 23 615 million and imports increased by R2 667 million to R41 082 million.
  • Europe:  The deficit increased from R3 104 million in February 2014 to R9 818 million in March 2014. Exports decreased by R1 725 million to R17 583 million and imports increased by R4 989 million to R27 401 million.
  • Oceania:   The deficit increased from R 81 million in February 2014 to R 472 million in March 2014. Exports decreased by R 28 million to R 812 million and imports increased by R 363 million to R 1 284 million.

Trade Release Tables

Trade Release Table (including BLNS)

Trade Release Table (excluding BLNS)

Trade Statistics with BLNS countries—

Trade statistics with the BLNS for March 2014 recorded a trade surplus of R9.77 billion.

Summary 

The R9.77 billion surplus for March 2014 can be attributed to exports of R11.87 billion and imports of R2.10 billion.

Exports increased from February to March by R1.42 billion (13.6%) and imports decreased from February to March by R0.13 billion (5.6%).

The cumulative surplus for 2014 is R25.36 billion compared to R18.67 billion in 2013.

Trade Highlights by Category

  • The February to March change (up by 13.6%) in exports of goods reflected increases in:
    • Precious Metals & Stones increased by R 515 million (49.4%);
    • Mineral Products increased by R 321 million (18.0%);
    • Vehicles & Transport Equipment increased by R 283 million (22.6%).
  • The February to March change (down by 5.6%) in imports of goods reflected a decrease in:
    • Chemical Products decreased by R 206 million (36.1%).

For more information, visit the Trade Statistics webpage.

Share this page on:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Print