South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R20.1 billion in July 2026, with exports increasing while imports declined from the previous month.
According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the surplus resulted from exports worth R194.0 billion and imports of R173.8 billion, including trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).
The latest figures also pushed South Africa’s preliminary trade surplus for the first seven months of 2026 to R130.9 billion.
“The year-to-date preliminary trade balance surplus, from 1 January to 31 July 2026, was R130.9 billion, higher than the R100.6 billion surplus recorded during the comparable period in 2025.
“On a year-on-year basis, export flows for July 2026 were 5.8% higher at R194.0 billion, compared with R183.3 billion recorded in July 2025. Import flows also increased by 5.8%, from R164.3 billion in July 2025 to R173.8 billion in the current period,” SARS said.
Exports rise while imports decline
On a month-on-month basis, South African exports increased by R1.5 billion, or 0.8%, from R192.5 billion in June to R194.0 billion in July.
Imports moved in the opposite direction, decreasing by R1.4 billion, or 0.8%, from R175.2 billion in June to R173.8 billion in July.
According to SARS, the increase in exports was driven by motor vehicles for passengers, manganese ores and concentrates, and coal.
The decline in imports was mainly attributed to lower imports of petroleum oils, excluding crude, crude oil and telephone sets, including smartphones.
June trade surplus revised down
SARS also revised its previously announced June trade balance following ongoing Vouchers of Correction.
“Due to ongoing Vouchers of Correction, the preliminary trade balance surplus of R17.8 billion announced for June 2026 was revised downwards by R0.5 billion, leaving a final surplus of R17.2 billion,” the revenue service said.
Despite the revision, July’s preliminary surplus was higher than the final R17.2 billion recorded for June.
Trade surplus excluding BELN reaches R9.1 billion
When trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia is excluded, South Africa recorded a preliminary R9.1 billion trade balance surplus with the rest of the world in July.
Exports to the rest of the world amounted to R176.7 billion, while imports totalled R167.6 billion.
“The R9.1 billion preliminary trade balance surplus for July 2026 resulted from exports of R176.7 billion and imports of R167.6 billion. Exports increased by R0.7 billion, or 0.4%, between June and July 2026, while imports decreased by R1.9 billion, or 1.1%, over the same period.
“The preliminary cumulative trade balance for 2026 was a surplus of R61.1 billion, compared with a R24.3 billion surplus for the corresponding period in 2025,” SARS said.
Including BELN trade, South Africa’s preliminary cumulative surplus of R130.9 billion for the first seven months of 2026 was R30.3 billion higher than the R100.6 billion recorded during the same period last year.
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