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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) today releases trade statistics for September 2012 that record a trade deficit of R13.8 billion.

Summary

The R13.8 billion deficit for September 2012 was due to a decrease in exports of 7.7% and a decrease in imports of 4.2%.

Exports for September 2012 of R56.7 billion and imports of R70.5 billion resulted in a deficit of R13.8 billion.

Exports decreased by R4.7 billion (-7.7%) and imports decreased by R3.1 billion (-4.2%).

The trade deficit for September 2012 is R13.8 billion (surplus of R2.5 billion in September 2011) compared to a deficit of R12.2 billion in August 2012, a month-on-month increase of R1.6 billion.

The cumulative deficit for the year to date is R86.1 billion compared to R5.8 billion in 2011.

Trade Highlights by Category

The August to September change (down by -7.7%) in exports of goods reflected decreases mainly in:

• Precious and semi-precious stones and metals decreased by R 535 million (-4%)
• Mineral products decreased by R 583 million (-4%)
• Base metals and articles thereof decreased by R 709 million (-9%)
• Machinery and electrical appliances decreased by R 884 million (-15%) and
• Vegetable products decreased by R 967 million (-30%).

The August to September change (down by -4.2%) in imports of goods reflected decreases mainly in:

• Vehicles, aircraft and vessels increased by R 906 million (13%)
• Mineral products decreased by R 370 million (-2%)
• Machinery and electrical appliances decreased by R 614 million (-4%)
• Products of the chemical or allied industries decreased by R 935 million (-13%), and
• Original equipment components decreased by R 985 million (-19%).

Trade Highlights by World Zone

The world zone results for August and September 2012 as given below are unaudited.

Asia

The deficit increased from R 11.3 billion in August to R 13.4 billion in September 2012. Exports decreased by R 2.2 billion to R 18.5 billion and imports decreased by R 0.1 billion to R 31.9 billion.

Europe

The deficit increased from R 8.3 billion in August to R 8.3 billion in September 2012. Exports decreased by R 1.0 billion to R 13.1 billion and imports decreased by R 1.0 billion to R 21.4 billion.

America

The deficit increased from R 0.5 billion in August to R 1.0 billion in September 2012. Exports decreased by R 0.9 billion to R 6.7 billion and imports decreased by R 0.3 billion to R 7.7 billion.

Africa

The surplus increased from R 1.8 billion in August to R 3.5 billion in September 2012. Exports decreased by R 0.1 billion to R 11.9 billion and imports decreased by R 1.8 billion to R 8.4 billion.

Oceania

The deficit increased from R 0.0 billion in August to R 0.3 billion in September 2012. Exports decreased by R 0.3 billion to R 0.6 billion and imports increased by R 0.0 billion to R 1.0 billion.