South Africa’s external position strengthened markedly at the start of 2026, with the country’s current account surplus rising to 190.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026. This represents a sharp increase from the previous reading of 50.2 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The latest data, updated on 11 June 2026, highlight a substantial quarter-on-quarter improvement in South Africa’s current account balance. While the underlying drivers are not detailed in the release, the scale of the increase suggests a notable shift in the country’s trade and income flows with the rest of the world. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming releases closely to assess whether this enlarged surplus can be sustained over the remainder of the year.
