SARS releases trade statistics for April 2017
Pretoria – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) released its trade statistics for April 2017 on May 31, recording a trade balance surplus of R5.08 billion. These statistics include trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS). The year-to-date trade balance surplus (01 January to 30 April 2017) of R9.89 billion is an improvement on the deficit for the comparable period in 2016 of R26.39 billion.
Including trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)
The R5.08 billion trade balance surplus for April 2017 is attributable to exports of R91.78 billion and imports of R86.70 billion. Exports decreased from March 2017 to April 2017 by R9.29 billion (9.2%) and imports decreased from March 2017 to April 2017 by R3.09 billion (3.4%).
Exports for the year-to-date (01 January to 30 April 2017) grew by 6.4% from R338.75 billion in 2016 to R360.27 billion in 2017. Imports for the year-to-date of R350.38 billion are 4.0% less than the imports recorded in January to April 2016 of R365.14 billion.
On a year-on-year basis, the R5.08 billion trade balance surplus for April 2017 is an improvement from the deficit recorded in April 2016 of R2.12 billion. Exports of R91.78 billion are 2% more than the exports recorded in March 2016 of R90.02 billion. Imports of R86.70 billion are 5.9% less than the imports recorded in April 2016 of R92.14 billion. March 2017’s trade balance surplus was revised downwards by R0.16 billion from the previous month’s preliminary surplus of R11.44 billion to a revised surplus of R11.28 billion
as a result of ongoing Vouchers of Correction (VOC’s).
Click HERE for Merchandise Trade Statistics April 2017
Trade highlights by category
The main month-on-month export movements:
Excluding trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)
The trade data excluding BLNS for April 2017 recorded a trade balance deficit of R1.19 billion.
Summary
The R1.19 billion deficit for April 2017 is as a result of exports of R82.66 billion and imports of R83.85 billion. Exports decreased from March 2017 to April 2017 by R7.18 billion (8.0%) and imports decreased from March 2017 to April 2017 by R2.67 billion (3.1%).
The cumulative deficit for 2017 is R17.21 billion compared to R60.33 billion deficit in 2016.
Trade highlights by category
The main month-on-month export movements:
The main month-on-month import movements:
Click HERE for Merchandise Trade Statistics April 2017.
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (Only)
Trade Statistics with BLNS countries
Trade statistics with the BLNS for April 2017 recorded a trade balance surplus of R6.27 billion.
Summary
The R6.27 billion surplus for April 2017 is as a result of exports of R9.12 billion and imports of R2.85 billion.
Exports decreased from March 2017 to April 2017 by R2.10 billion (18.8%) and imports also decreased from March 2017 to April 2017 by R0.42 billion (12.9%).
The cumulative surplus for 2017 is R27.10 billion compared to R33.94 billion in 2016.
Trade Highlights by Category
The main month-on-month export movements:
Click HERE for Merchandise Trade Statistics April 2017.
