South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R10.5-billion in April, the South African Revenue Services (Sars) reports.
This surplus is attributed to exports of R169.5-billion and imports of R159.1-billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).
The year-to-date (January 1 to April 30) preliminary trade balance surplus of R26.6-billion was an improvement from the R6.7-billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2023.
On a year-on-year basis, export flows for April of R169.5-billion were 4.2% higher compared with R162.7-billion recorded in April 2023, while import flows were 0.8% higher having increased from R157.8-billion in April 2023 to R159.1-billion in the current period.
On a month-to-month basis, exports increased by R7.2-billion (4.4%) from R162.3-billion to R169.5-billion between March and April, while imports also increased by R5.9-billion (3.8%) from R153.2-billion to R159.1-billion over the same period.
Export flows increased in April, driven by platinum group metals, gold and passenger vehicles.
Imports flows increased on the back of sizable increases in the importation of petroleum oils (excluding crude), original equipment components and passengers vehicles.
Owing to ongoing vouchers of correction, the preliminary trade balance surplus of R7.3-billion announced for March was revised upwards by R1.9-billion, with the final number at R9.2-billion.