South Africa recorded a preliminary trade surplus of R19.8 billion in September 2026, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said on Friday 30 October.
Exports came to R190.6 billion and imports to R170.8 billion. The figures include trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN), which SARS reports with South Africa’s own.
Month on month and year on year
Against August 2026, exports rose by R9.3 billion or 5.1%, from R181.3 billion. Imports rose by R8.4 billion or 5.2%, from R162.3 billion.
Against September 2025, exports were 2.2% higher than the R186.4 billion recorded then. Imports were 3.6% higher than R164.9 billion.
SARS revised the August surplus down by R1.5 billion. Its preliminary figure of R20.5 billion became a final R19.0 billion because of vouchers of correction, which are amendments to customs declarations.
ExportsImports
Source: SARS, preliminary trade statistics media release of 30 October 2026. September 2026 figures are preliminary; August 2026 is revised. Chart: Rand Desk
What drove the moves
SARS said higher exports of platinum group metals, gold, and zinc ores and concentrates lifted exports. On the import side, it named petroleum oils (excluding crude), aeroplanes and automatic data processing machines.
By world zone, SARS’s table shows Asia as the largest deficit. Imports from Asia rose 17.8%, from R81.1 billion to R95.6 billion, while exports rose 5.0% to R57.7 billion, so the deficit widened from R26.2 billion to R37.9 billion.
Europe moved the other way. Exports to Europe rose 9.9%, from R41.8 billion to R46.0 billion, and imports fell 18.0%, from R45.0 billion to R36.9 billion. A R3.2 billion deficit in August became a R9.0 billion surplus.
Trade with America showed a small deficit of R0.2 billion in September, against a surplus of R2.2 billion in August, as exports fell 11.6% to R15.8 billion.
Africa, excluding BELN, took exports of R31.9 billion in September, up 2.4%, and sent imports of R13.4 billion, up 5.2%. That left a surplus of R18.5 billion.
Trade excluding BELN
For trade with the rest of the world excluding BELN, SARS reported a surplus of R8.7 billion. Exports were R173.0 billion and imports R164.2 billion. Exports rose by R8.3 billion or 5.0% on August, and imports by R8.2 billion or 5.3%.
Year to date
From January to September 2026 the preliminary surplus was R169.0 billion, against R117.5 billion for the same months of 2025. SARS gave year-to-date exports of about R1.6 trillion and imports of about R1.5 trillion. Excluding BELN, the cumulative surplus is R78.0 billion, against R25.6 billion a year earlier.
Our earlier reports on producer inflation and the November petrol outlook cover other prices that move with trade. SARS releases trade statistics monthly, so the October figures are the next set due.
