Johannesburg: South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R20.1 billion in July 2026, driven by trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia (BELN). This was reported by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in a statement released on Monday.
According to South African Government News Agency, the surplus stemmed from exports reaching R194.0 billion while imports amounted to R173.8 billion, inclusive of trade with BELN countries. The year-to-date preliminary trade balance surplus from January to July 2026 was R130.9 billion, which is an increase from the R100.6 billion surplus recorded during the same period in 2025.
SARS noted that export flows for July 2026 were 5.8% higher at R194.0 billion, compared to R183.3 billion in July 2025. Similarly, import flows rose by 5.8% from R164.3 billion in July 2025 to R173.8 billion in the current period. On a month-on-month basis, exports increased by R1.5 billion, or 0.8%, from R192.5 billion in June to R194.0 billion in July 2026. Imports saw a decrease of R1.4 billion, or 0.8%, from R175.2 billion to R173.8 billion over the same period.
Export growth in July 2026 was mainly driven by passenger motor vehicles, manganese ores and concentrates, and coal. Conversely, import flows declined due to reduced imports of petroleum oils, excluding crude, as well as crude oil and telephone sets, including smartphones. SARS also reported that the preliminary trade balance surplus of R17.8 billion announced for June 2026 was revised downwards by R0.5 billion, resulting in a final surplus of R17.2 billion.
In terms of South Africa's trade with the rest of the world, excluding BELN countries, a preliminary trade balance surplus of R9.1 billion was recorded in July 2026. This surplus was the result of exports totaling R176.7 billion and imports of R167.6 billion. Between June and July 2026, exports increased by R0.7 billion, or 0.4%, while imports decreased by R1.9 billion, or 1.1%.
The preliminary cumulative trade balance for 2026 was a surplus of R61.1 billion, compared to a R24.3 billion surplus for the corresponding period in 2025, SARS stated.