Johannesburg - SA recorded another trade deficit in June for
its trade with non-Southern African Customs Union (non-SACU) trading partners.
A R5.7bn deficit was recorded in June‚ after an R8.9bn
deficit in May‚ Sars customs and excise figures released on Tuesday showed.
The deficits have however been smaller in recent months
compared to April’s almost R10bn deficit.
Customs and excise attributed June’s decline mainly to a
decrease in exports of mineral products and decreased imports of mineral
products‚ machinery and electrical appliances‚ products of the chemicals or
allied industries‚ base metals and articles thereof and original equipment
components.
There was a R1.1bn (1.7%) decrease in exports to R61.7bn and
a decrease in imports of R4.3bn (6.0%) to R67.4bn.
The cumulative deficit for the year to date is R51.1bn
compared with a cumulative deficit of just R2.5bn in 2011.
A breakdown of the figures showed that the exports of
vehicles‚ aircraft and vessels rose by R814m‚ or 15%; vegetable products
increased by R699m‚ or 27%; precious and semi-precious stones and metals
increased by R486m‚ or 3%; base metals and articles thereof increased by R118m‚
or 2%.
Mineral product exports decreased by R2.3bn or 13%.
In imports‚ mineral products decreased by R2.1bn or 11%;
machinery and electrical appliances decreased by R1.2bn or 7%; products of the
chemicals or allied industries fell R657m or 11%.
Base metals and articles thereof decreased by R498m‚ or 14%;
original equipment components decreased by R461m or 10%.
Vehicles‚ aircraft and vessels increased by R525m‚ or 7%.