However, the year-to-date trade balance deficit of R14.18 billion is a deterioration on the surplus for the comparable period in 2017 of R16.41 billion.

Exports year-to-date decreased by 0.4 percent, whilst imports for the same period showed an increase of 6.4 percent.

The R3.52 billion trade balance surplus for May 2018 is attributable to exports of R102.61 billion and imports of R99.09 billion. Exports increased from April 2018 to May 2018 by R14.15 billion (16 percent) and imports increased from April 2018 to May 2018 by R11.80 billion (13.5 percent).

Exports for the year-to-date decreased by 0.4 percent from R461.52 billion in 2017 to R459.58 billion in 2018. Imports for the year-to-date of R473.76 billion are 6.4 percent more than the imports recorded in January to May 2017 of R445.11 billion, leaving a cumulative trade balance deficit of R14.18 billion for 2018.

On a year-on-year basis, the R3.52 billion trade balance surplus for May 2018 is a deterioration from the surplus recorded in May 2017 of R7.89 billion.

Exports of R102.61 billion are 0.8 percent less than the exports recorded in May 2017 of R103.39 billion. Imports of R99.09 billion are 3.8 percent more than the imports recorded in May 2017 of R95.50 billion.

April 2018’s trade balance surplus was revised upwards by R0.26 billion from the previous month’s preliminary surplus of R1.14 billion to a revised surplus of R1.17 billion as a result of ongoing Vouchers of Correction (VOC’s).

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