South African trade statistics for March 2010

30 April 2010

South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for March 2010 that record a trade surplus of R0.46 billion.

Summary

The R0.46 billion surplus for March 2010 was due to an increase in imports of 11.16 percent and an increase in exports of 27.50 percent.

Exports for March 2010 of R51.53 billion and imports of R51.08 billion resulted in a surplus of R0.46 billion

Imports increased by R5.13 billion (11.16 percent) to R51.08 billion and exports increased by R11.11 billion (27.50 percent) to R51.53 billion.

The trade surplus for March 2010 is R0.46 billion (Deficit of R0.57 billion in March 2009) compared to a deficit of R5.5 billion in February 2010, a month-on-month improvement of R6 billion.

The cumulative deficit for the year to date is R8.56 billion compared to R19.01 billion in 2009, an improvement of R10.45 billion or 55 percent.

Trade highlights by category:

* The February to March change (up by 11.16 percent) in imports of goods reflected increases mainly in:
* Machinery and electrical appliances up by R2.8 billion (28 percent)
* Products of the chemical or allied industry up by R0.7 billion (15 percent)
* Base metals and articles thereof up by R0.6 billion (29 percent)
* Plastics and rubber and articles thereof up by R0.5 billion (33 percent)

The February to March change (up by 27.50 percent) in exports of goods reflected increases mainly in:

* Mineral products up by R3.2 billion (42 percent)
* Precious and semi-precious stones and metals up by R2.4 billion (24 percent)
* Vehicles, aircraft and vessels up by R2.0 billion (68 percent)
* Base metals and articles thereof up by R1.6 billion (22 percent).

Trade highlights by world zone:

The world zone results for March 2010 as given below are unaudited and those for February 2010 are audited.

* Asia: The deficit decreased from R5.8 billion in February 2010 to R4.3 billion in March 2010. Exports increased by R4.4 billion to R17.4 billion and imports increased by R2.9 billion to R21.7 billion.

* Europe: The deficit decreased from R4.5 billion in February 2010 to R4.4 billion in March 2010. Exports increased by R2.5 billion to R13.9 billion and imports increased by R2.4 billion to R18.3 billion.

* America: The deficit of R0.9 billion in February 2010 changed to a surplus of R0.4 billion in March 2010. Exports increased by R2.5 billion to R6.2 billion and imports increased by R1.2 billion to R5.8 billion.

* Africa: The surplus increased from R1.8 billion in February 2010 to R3.5 billion in March 2010. Exports increased by R0.6 billion to R7.6 billion and imports decreased by R1.2 billion to R4.1 billion.

For more information on trade statistics follow the provided link: http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=1306

Issued by: South African Revenue Service
30 April 2010
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://www.sars.gov.za/)