ALAN PEAT WHILE SA imports from the US have risen by almost 40% in the first half of this year, exports have remained constant in US dollar terms compared with the previous year’s figures. According to US Department of Commerce figures released to FTW by the Trade Law Centre of Southern Africa (tralac), SA imports in the January to June period totalled US$1.87-billion (R12.15-bn) compared to US$1.36-bn (R8.84-bn) in the same period last year. Meanwhile, SA exports totalled US$2.88-bn (R18.72-bn) in the first half compared to US$2.89-bn (R18.78-bn) last year. The big performers in the import field were transportation equipment and electronics. SA recorded increases in agri-product, forestry, chemical and related product, machinery, and mineral exports. But exports of textiles and clothing, miscellaneous manufactures and particularly transportation equipment declined. While the first half figures for this year are somewhat disappointing from an export growth point of view, SA still retains a trade surplus with the US of US$1-bn (R6.5-bn) in that period, compared to US$3-bn (R19.5-bn) for the whole of 2004.
