South Africa’s trade surplus shrank significantly in December 2025, with the balance falling to 23.18 billion rand from 37.92 billion rand in November 2025. The latest data, updated on 30 January 2026, point to a notable month-on-month deterioration in the country’s external position.
The December figures indicate that, while South Africa maintained a positive trade balance, the surplus weakened by more than a third compared with the prior month. This shift in the trade balance will be closely watched by markets and analysts assessing the sustainability of South Africa’s external accounts and the potential implications for the rand and broader economic outlook.
