Johannesburg: South Africa has recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R15.6 billion in October 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said. This surplus was attributable to exports of R192.2 billion and imports of R176.6 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).

According to Nam News Network, the year-to-date (01 January to 31 October 2025) preliminary trade balance surplus of R142.7 billion was lower than the R148.1 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2024. On a year-on-year basis, export flows for October 2025 (R192.2 billion) were 7.4% higher compared to R178.9 billion recorded in October 2024.

Import flows increased by 7.3%, rising from R164.5 billion in October 2024 to R176.6 billion in the current period, SARS said on Friday. On a month-on-month basis, exports increased by R5.2 billion (2.8%) from R187.0 billion to R192.2 billion between September and October 2025, while imports increased by R11.8 billion (7.2%) from R164.8
billion to R176.6 billion over the same period.

Export flows in October 2025 were driven by gold, diamonds, and unwrought aluminium, whereas import flows increased due to higher importation of crude oil, petroleum oils (excluding crude), and original equipment components. Due to ongoing Vouchers of Correction (VOCs), the preliminary trade balance surplus of R21.8 billion announced for September 2025 was revised upwards by R0.5 billion, with the final number at R22.3 billion.