The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released trade statistics for March 2016 that recorded a trade surplus of R2.92 billion. This figure includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS).

Including trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)

The R2.92 billion surplus for March 2016 is due to exports of R96.13 billion and imports of R93.22 billion, improving from a revised deficit of R1.27 billion in February 2016. Exports increased from February 2016 to March 2016 by R5.66 billion (6.3%) and imports increased from February 2016 to March 2016 by R1.48 billion (1.6%).

On a year-on-year basis, the R2.92 billion surplus is an improvement from the surplus recorded in March 2015 of R1.45 billion. Exports of R96.13 billion are 4.2% more than the exports recorded in March 2015 of R92.30 billion. Imports of R93.22 billion are 2.6% more than the imports recorded in March 2015 of R90.85 billion.

The cumulative deficit for 2016 of R17.96 billion is 39.2% less than the deficit for the comparable period in 2015 of R29.52 billion.

The month of February 2016 trade balance deficit was revised downwards by R0.20 billion from the previous month’s preliminary deficit of R1.07 billion to a revised deficit of R1.27 billion.

Trade highlights by category

The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):

The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):

Trade highlights by world zone

The world zone results from February 2016 to March 2016 are given below.

Africa:

Trade surplus: R16 063 million – this is a 12.4% increase in comparison to the R14 295 million surplus recorded in February 2016.

America:

Trade deficit: R1 448 million – this is a 44.5% decrease in comparison to the R2 611 million deficit recorded in February 2016.

Asia:

Trade deficit: R10 088 million – this is a 27.3% decrease in comparison to the R13 878 million deficit recorded in February 2016.

Europe:

Trade deficit: R10 639 million – this is a 58.4% increase in comparison to the R6 716 million deficit recorded in February 2016.

Oceania:

Trade deficit: R 97 million – this is a deterioration in comparison to the R 518 million surplus recorded in February 2016.

Excluding trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS)

The trade data excluding BLNS for March 2016 recorded a trade deficit of R6.20 billion. This is as a result of exports of R84.30 billion and imports of R90.50 billion. Exports increased from February 2016 to March 2016 by R5.11 billion (6.4%) and imports increased from February 2016 to March 2016 by R1.91 billion (2.2%).

The cumulative deficit for 2016 is R42.40 billion compared to R53.99 billion in 2015.

Trade highlights by category

The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):

The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):

Trade highlights by world zone

The world zone results for Africa excluding BLNS from February 2016 to March 2016 are given below.

Africa:

Trade surplus: R6 943 million – this is a 12.7% increase in comparison to the R6 159 million surplus recorded in February 2016.

Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (Only)

Trade statistics with the BLNS for March 2016 recorded a trade surplus of R9.12 billion. This is as a result of exports of R11.84 billion and imports of R2.72 billion.

Exports increased from February 2016 to March 2016 by R0.56 billion (4.9%) and imports decreased from February 2016 to March 2016 by R0.43 billion (13.6%).

The cumulative surplus for 2016 is R24.44 billion compared to R24.47 billion in 2015.

Trade Highlights by Category

The month-on-month export movements (R’ million):

The month-on-month import movements (R’ million):