31 January 2022 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for December 2021 recording a preliminary trade balance surplus of R30.14 billion. These statistics include trade data with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN). The year-to-date (01 January to 31 December 2021) preliminary trade balance surplus of R440.75 billion is an improvement from the R271.57 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2020. Exports increased by 22.9% year-on-year whilst imports increased by 34.2% over the same period.
The R30.14 billion preliminary trade balance surplus for December 2021 is attributable to exports of R156.30 billion and imports of R126.16 billion. Exports decreased by R6.49 billion (4.0%) between November and December 2021 and imports decreased by R0.79 billion (0.6%) over the same period.
