Trade Statistics for March 2023 released show a trace balance surplus but year-to-date deterioration

Trade statistics for March 2023 released on 28 April 2023 show a preliminary trade balance surplus of R6.9 billion in March 2023. This surplus is attributable to exports of R192.2 billion and imports of R185.3 billion.

The year-to-date (01 January to 31 March 2023) preliminary trade balance deficit of R6.2 billion is a deterioration from the R61.9 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2022. Export flows for March 2023, at R192.2 billion, were 3.2% higher compared to March 2022 (R186.3bn) whilst import flows were 30.9% higher having increased from R141.5 billion in March 2022 to R185.3 billion in the current period.

Read the Media Release here.

Visit the Trade Statistics webpage here.