South Africa recorded a preliminary trade surplus of R20.1 billion in July as exports increased and imports declined.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said exports rose by 0.8% month on month from R192.5 billion in June to R194 billion in July.
Imports decreased by 0.8% from R175.2 billion to R173.8 billion over the same period.
The June trade surplus, initially reported at R17.8 billion, was revised to R17.2 billion following vouchers of correction.
SARS attributes the increase in exports to higher shipments of passenger vehicles, manganese ores and concentrates and coal.
Transport equipment exports increased by about 8% month on month from R23.9 billion to R25.7 billion. Machinery and electronics exports rose by 18% to R14.9 billion while vegetable product exports increased by 12% to R16.7 billion.
Exports of precious metals and stones declined by 21% from R50 billion in June to R39.6 billion in July.
On the import side, transport equipment recorded the largest increase among the leading categories, rising by 28% from R16.5 billion to R21 billion.
Chemical product imports increased by 14% to R20.7 billion while imports of original equipment components rose by 14% to R14.5 billion.
Mineral product imports fell by 32% from R43.2 billion to R29.5 billion. SARS attributes the decline to lower imports of petroleum oils, excluding crude, crude oil and telephone sets, including smartphones.
Trade with the rest of Africa also moved significantly. Including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia, South African exports to the continent rose by 8.6% to R49.2 billion while imports declined by 30.8% to R17.3 billion.
This resulted in a trade surplus with Africa of approximately R32 billion for the month.
South Africa’s cumulative trade surplus for the first seven months of 2026 increased to R130.9 billion. It was R100.6 billion during the corresponding period in 2025.
Exports and imports were both 5.8% higher year on year in July.
