The SA Revenue Service (Sars) yesterday afternoon released trade statistics for July - recording a trade deficit of R0.40 billion. This figure includes trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS).
It was due to exports of R94.21bn and imports of R94.61bn. Exports increased from June to July by R4.26bn (4.7%) and imports increased by R10.14bn (12.0%).
The cumulative deficit for 2015 is R25.23bn compared to R53.37bn in 2014.
The consensus amongst economists was well off the actual July figure. Bloomberg was closest, pencilling in a deficit of -R1.6bn, while the Reuters poll predicted a surplus of R1.5bn and the Standard Bank economics team believed it would see a third consecutive trade surplus of R2.0bn.
SA reports trade deficit for July
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