Afrique du Sud Balance Commerciale

South Africa posted a trade gap of ZAR 16.4 billion in January 2025, compared to a downwardly revised ZAR 14.7 billion in the prior month, marking the first monthly trade shortfall in a year and the steepest since January 2023. Imports jumped by 14.4% over a month to an over one-year high of ZAR 165.4 billion, boosted by a 68% rise in purchases of original equipment components. Imports also increased for vehicles & transport equipment (+24%), chemical products (+19%) and machinery & electronics (+14%), but fell for mineral products (-12%). Meanwhile, exports declined by 6.4% to a one-year low of ZAR 149 billion, dragged down by lower shipments of precious metals & stones (-25%) and vehicles & transport equipment (-29%). However, overseas sales increased for vegetable products (+29%), base metals (+17%) and mineral products (+11%).