Johannesburg - The country's trade deficit narrowed more than expected to R190m in June from a revised R7.44bn shortfall in May, data from the South African Revenue Service showed on Thursday.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a trade gap of R6.3bn, but the number tends to be volatile, making it difficult to forecast.
Exports rose by 3.7% to R80.27bn, while imports decreased by 5.1% to R80.46bn.
The latest data brings the cumulative deficit for 2014 to R48.27bn compared with R35.57bn over the same period in 2013.
The data incorporates previously excluded trade data with South Africa's neighbours Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a trade gap of R6.3bn, but the number tends to be volatile, making it difficult to forecast.
Exports rose by 3.7% to R80.27bn, while imports decreased by 5.1% to R80.46bn.
The latest data brings the cumulative deficit for 2014 to R48.27bn compared with R35.57bn over the same period in 2013.
The data incorporates previously excluded trade data with South Africa's neighbours Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.