Pretoria, 29 January 2021 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for December 2020 recording a trade surplus of R32.00 billion. These statistics include trade data with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN). The year-to-date (01 January to 31 December 2020) trade surplus of R270.63 billion is an improvement from the R23.66 billion surplus for the comparable period in 2019. Exports increased by 21.9% year-on-year whilst imports increased by 5.7% over the same period.

Including trade data with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN)

The R32.00 billion trade surplus for December 2020 is attributable to exports of R125.95 billion and imports of R93.95 billion. Exports decreased by R11.25 billion (8.2%) between November and December 2020 and imports decreased by R7.99 billion (7.8%) over the same period.