The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for May 2013 that record a trade deficit of R11.03 billion.
Summary
The R11.03 billion deficit for May 2013 can be attributed to exports of R66.48 billion and imports of R77.51 billion. Exports increased from April to May by R0.08 billion (0.1%) and imports decreased from to April to May by R4.80 billion (-5.8%).
The cumulative deficit for 2013 is R68.71 billion compared to R46.21 billion in 2012.
Trade Highlights by Category
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The April to May change (up by 0.1%) in exports of goods reflected increases and decreases mainly in:
- Vegetable products increased by R1 049 million (37%);
- Machinery and electrical appliances increased by R752 million (14%);
- Vehicles, aircraft and vessels increased by R 688 million (11%);
- Products of the chemicals or allied industries increased by R 386 million (11%);
- Prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco increased by R 162 million (8%);
- Pulp of wood, waste and scrap of paper increased by R 134 million (14%);
- Mineral products decreased by R1 447 million (-8%);
- Precious and semi-precious stones and metals decreased by R1 081 million (-8%);
- Base metals and articles thereof decreased by R 562 million (-6%);
The April to May change (down by 5.8%) in imports of goods reflected decreases and an increase mainly in:
- Mineral products decreased by R3 315 million (-16%);
- Machinery and electrical appliances decreased by R 894 million (-4%);
- Vehicles, aircraft and vessels increased by R 753 million (10%);
Trade highlights by world zone
The world zone results for April to May 2013 as given below are unaudited.
- Asia: The deficit decreased from R14.15 billion in April 2013 to R 10.63 billion in May 2013. Exports decreased by R 1.11 billion to R 24.37 billion and imports decreased by R4.64 billion to R35.01 billion.
- Europe: The deficit decreased from R 10.34 billion in April 2013 to R8.70 billion in May 2013. Exports increased by R 1.19 billion to R 16.16 billion and imports decreased by R 0.45 billion to R 24.86 billion.
- America: The deficit decreased from R1.51 billion in April 2013 to R0.94 billion in May 2013. Exports increased by R0.88 billion to R 7.38 billion and imports increased by R 0.30 billion to R8.32 billion.
- Africa: The surplus increased from R4.43 billion in April 2013 to R4.65 billion in May 2013. Exports increased by R0.69 billion to R12.67 billion and imports increased by R0.46 billion to R8.01 billion.
- Oceania: The deficit decreased from R0.69 billion in April 2013 to R0.46 billion in May 2013. Exports decreased by R0.03 billion to R 0.73 billion and imports decreased by R0.27 billion to R1.18 billion.
