* 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, 31 March 2014 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics that includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS) for February 2014 that recorded a trade surplus of R1.72 billion [trade deficit R6.54 billion].
Summary
The R1.72 billion surplus for February 2014 [trade deficit R6.54 billion] can be attributed to exports of R83.93 billion [R73.42 billion] and imports of R82.21 billion [R79.96 billion].
Exports increased from January to February by R6.14 billion (7.9%) [R5.09 billion (7.5%)] and imports decreased from January to February by R12.51 billion (13.2%) [R12.75 billion (13.8%)].
The cumulative deficit for 2014 is R15.21 billion [R30.92 billion] compared to R20.25 billion [R32.24 billion] in 2013.
Trade Highlights by Category
- The January to February change (up by 7.9%) [up by 7.5%] in exports of goods reflected increases and a decrease in:
- Vehicles & Transport Equipment increased by R2 883 million (49.4%) [R2 857 million (62.2%)];
- Machinery & Electronics increased by R1 346 million (21.2%) [R1 183 million (23.0%)];
- Base Metals increased by R 840 million (7.9%) [R 698 million (6.9%)];
- Chemical Products increased by R 725 million (16.6%) [R 682 million (19.1%)];
- Precious Metals & Stones decreased by R1 149 million (8.0%) [R1 471 million (10.7%)].
- The January to February change (down by 13.2%) [down by 13.8%] in imports of goods reflected decreases and an increase in:
- Machinery & Electronics decreased by R6 471 million (27.0%) [R6 494 million (27.3%)];
- Mineral Products decreased by R3 851 million (16.6%) [R3 862 million (16.7%)];
- Chemical Products decreased by R1 164 million (13.7%) [R1 244 million (15.5%)];
- Vegetable Products decreased by R1 058 (50.0%) [R1 041 million (50.2%)];
- Plastics & Rubber decreased by R 698 million (18.9%) [R 699 million (19.0%)];
- Vehicle & Transport Equipment increased by R1 029 million (13.4%) [R1 020 million (13.3%)].
Trade Highlights by World Zone
The world zone results for January 2014 to February 2014 as given below.
- Africa: The surplus increased from R8 138 million [R692 million] in January 2014 to R13 263 million [R 5 008 million] in February 2014. Exports increased by R3 087 million [R2 035 million] to R24 242 million [R13 738 million] and imports decreased by R2 038 million [R2 281 million] to R10 978 million [R8 731 million].
- America: The deficit decreased from R2 197 million in January 2014 to R 475 million in February 2014. Exports increased by R2 127 million to R8 467 million and imports increased by R 406 million to R8 942 million.
- Asia: The deficit decreased from R20 061 million in January 2014 to R11 052 million in February 2014. Exports increased by R2 458 million to R 27 365 million and imports decreased by R6 550 million to R38 418 million.
- Europe: The deficit decreased from R6 656 million in January 2014 to R2 924 million in February 2014. Exports decreased by R 728 million to R19 505 million and imports decreased by R4 460 million to R22 429 million.
- Oceania: The deficit decreased from R 635 million in January 2014 to R 74 million in February 2014. Exports increased by R 272 million to R 847 million and imports decreased by R 289 million to R 921 million.
Trade Release Table (Including BLNS)
Trade Release Table (Excluding BLNS)
Trade Statistics with BLNS countries—
Trade statistics with the BLNS for February 2014 recorded a trade surplus of R8.26 billion.
Summary
The R8.26 billion surplus for February 2014 can be attributed to exports of R10.50 billion and imports of R2.25 billion.
Exports increased from January to February by R1.05 billion (11.1%) and imports increased from January to February by R0.24 billion (12.1%).
The cumulative surplus for 2014 is R15.70 billion compared to R11.99 billion in 2013.
Trade Highlights by Category
- The January to February change (up by 11.1%) in exports of goods reflected increases in:
- Precious Metals & Stones increased by R 322 million (44.6%);
- Machinery & Electronics increased by R 163 million (13.5%);
- Mineral Products increased by R 145 million (8.7%);
- Base Metals increased by R 142 million (27.4%);
- Plastics & Rubber increased by R 105 million (28.6%).
- The January to February change (up by 12.1%) in imports of goods reflected increases in:
- Chemical Products increased by R 80 million (15.8%);
- Textiles increased by R 56 million (25.2%);
- Precious Metals & Stones increased by R 29 million (8.6%);
- Machinery & Electronics increased by R 24 million (19.5%).
