Johannesburg -South Africa edged further away from recent record trade deficits in December, thanks to a 16.0% drop in imports.
The South African Revenue Service reported that the trade deficit narrowed to considerably to R2.7bn ($300m) from 7.9bn the month before - a near record level.
The drop was largely thanks to a sharp reduction in imports, with local importing more than 30% less vegetables, textiles, metals and manufactured goods.
Imports of equipment components decreased by 42%.
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