South Africa’s trade surplus widened to ZAR 20.5 billion in August 2026, the highest level since March, from a downwardly revised ZAR 18 billion in July. Imports declined 7.8% to a five-month low of ZAR 161.3 billion, with broad-based drops across all five key import categories. Purchases of original equipment components fell 20%, chemical products 16%, vehicles and transport equipment 8%, machinery and electronics 5%, and mineral products 4%.
Exports decreased 5.8% to ZAR 182 billion, driven by lower shipments of vegetable products (down 9%), mineral products (down 9%), and precious metals and stones (down 9%), particularly platinum group metals (PGMs), gold, and zinc ores and concentrates, as well as a 3% decline in machinery and electronics.
