In October 2025, South Africa saw its trade surplus decrease to ZAR 15.6 billion from the previously adjusted figure of ZAR 22.3 billion in September. This change was influenced by a notable 7.2% rise in imports, reaching ZAR 176.6 billion. The surge was primarily due to increased acquisitions of mineral products, such as crude oil, precious metals and stones, including gold and diamonds, original equipment components, base metals, and vehicles transport equipment. Imports from Africa and Asia rose significantly by 20% and 12.4% respectively, whereas there was a decrease in imports from Europe by 3.5% and from the Americas by 1.2%.
Conversely, exports grew at a more modest rate of 2.8%, totaling ZAR 192.2 billion. This growth was driven largely by higher shipments of precious metals and stones (including gold and diamonds) and base metals. However, there was a sharp decline in exports of vegetable products, plummeting by 35%. While exports to Africa increased by 8.3%, there were declines across other regions: the Americas down by 7.9%, Asia by 2.6%, Europe by 4.1%, and Oceania by 10.2%.
