South Africa recorded a provisional trade surplus of 19.8 billion rand in September 2026, according to statistics published on 30 October by SARS, the tax and customs administration. Merchandise exports reached 190.6 billion rand and imports 170.8 billion. These figures include trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia, grouped together under the acronym BELN.
The result exceeds that of August, now estimated at 19.0 billion rand. The monthly improvement must, however, be read against this corrected base. The previous bulletin had announced a surplus of 20.5 billion for August, higher than the provisional September result. The revision therefore changes the direction of the comparison between the two months.
The August correction changes the comparison
SARS attributes this correction to revisions of customs declarations. In the detailed tables, the August surplus falls from 20.473 billion to 18.969 billion rand. Exports for that month are now valued at 181.318 billion rand and imports at 162.349 billion.
On this revised basis, September exports rise by 9.273 billion rand and purchases by 8.445 billion. The administration cites platinum group metals, gold and zinc ores among the drivers of exports. On the import side, it points to petroleum products other than crude, aircraft and data-processing machines.
These changes concern the declared value of goods. They do not directly measure an increase in the quantities produced or transported. SARS's method values exports and imports free on board and excludes goods imported or exported for processing.
A large surplus with the four BELN neighbours
The regional breakdown shows the weight of the four BELN partners. Exports to these countries amounted to 17.6 billion rand in September, against 6.5 billion rand of imports. The corresponding positive balance reached 11.1 billion rand.
Outside this group, trade with the rest of the world yields a surplus of 8.7 billion rand. The two groupings are presented separately in the customs tables and together make up the national result.
Across January to September 2026, the trade surplus reached 169.0 billion rand, against 117.5 billion for the comparable period of 2025. This annual comparison sets the current year's provisional results against the revised figures for the previous year.