CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s trade balance‚ which includes trade with Botswana‚ Lesotho‚ Namibia and Swaziland‚ recorded a R6.85bn surplus in December after a R5.7bn deficit in November‚ South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs and excise data showed here the other day.
The trade deficit excluding Botswana‚ Lesotho‚ Namibia and Swaziland was R0.68bn.
The R6.85bn surplus was attributed to exports of R87.49bn and imports of R80.64bn.
Exports increased from November to December by R3.23bn, or 3.8%, and imports decreased from November to December by R8.89bn or, 9.9%.
The cumulative deficit for 2014 is R95.3bn compared to R71.36bn by the same time in 2013.