The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for November 2009 that record a trade deficit of R2.5 billion.
Summary
* The R2.47 billion deficit for November 2009 was due to a decrease in imports of 4.86 percent and an increase in exports of 4.01 percent
* Exports for November 2009 of R45.86 billion and imports of R48.33 billion resulted in a deficit of R2.47 billion
* Imports decreased by R2.47 billion (4.86 percent) to R48.33 billion and exports increased by R1.77 billion (4.01 percent) to R45.86 billion.
Trade highlights by category:
* The October to November change (down by 4.86 percent) in imports of goods reflected decreases mainly in:
* Mineral products [down by R2.6 billion (-21 percent)]
* Products of the chemicals or allied industry [down by R0.6 billion (-11 percent)]
* An increase of R1.0 billion in vehicles, aircraft and vessels (23 percent)
* The October to November change (up by 4.01 percent) in exports of goods reflected increases mainly in:
* Precious and semi-precious stones and metals [up by R2.1 billion (21 percent)]
* Vehicles, aircraft and vessels [up by R1.6 billion (37 percent)]
* A decrease of R1.3 billion in mineral products (-15 percent).
Trade highlights by world zone:
The world zone results for November 2009 as given in the table (http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/docs/tradestatistics_1109.gif) are un-audited, and those for October 2009 are audited:
* Asia: The deficit decreased from R8.5 billion in October 2009 to R6.1 billion in November 2009. Exports increased by R0.01 billion to R12.6 billion and imports decreased by R2.4 billion to R18.7 billion
* Europe: The deficit decreased from R4.7 billion in October 2009 to R4.2 billion in November 2009. Exports increased by R0.5 billion to R13.6 billion and imports decreased by R0.01 billion to R17.77 billion.
* America: The deficit decreased from R0.06 billion in October 2009 to R0.05 billion in November 2009. Exports increased by R0.4 billion to R5.6 billion and imports increased by R0.9 billion to R6.1 billion.
* Africa: The surplus increased from R2.4 billion in October 2009 to R3.4 billion in November 2009. Exports decreased by R0.1 billion to R7.9 billion and imports decreased by R1.1 billion to R4.5 billion.
For more detail, see our trade data statistics at http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=1306.
Enquiries:
Adrian Lackay
Tel: 012 422 4206
Cell: 083 388 2580
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
30 December 2009
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://www.sars.gov.za/)
