December Trade Dips, but SA Closes 2025 on a Stronger Surplus
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According to the lates Media Release by SARS, South Africa ended 2025 on a resilient note, posting a R23.2 billion trade surplus in December despite a noticeable slowdown in both exports and imports. The year closed with a cumulative surplus of R201.6 billion, slightly ahead of 2024’s R197.1 billion, a sign of stability in a volatile global trade environment. So, what happened in December?
📉 Exports Dropped Sharply, But So Did Imports
Exports fell R23.4 billion month-on-month (-12.5%) to R164.3 billion.
Key drags: gold and vehicles
Imports also declined — down R8.6 billion (-5.8%) to R141.1 billion.
Drivers: lower crude oil, IT hardware, and generator imports
On a year-on-year basis, exports were still up by 3.4%, while imports were 2.2% lower, helping maintain a net trade advantage.
🌐 Global Performance Snapshot
Asia closed with a deficit of R28.1 billion with persistent import pressures and flat export demand
Europe closed with R8.3 billion surplus — driven by steady exports
America swung to a R1.5 billion surplus
Oceania showed a modest R202 million surplus
📊 Key Sector Movements (Nov–Dec 2025)
Top Export Changes:
Precious Metals & Stones: ▲ 37% to R48.4 billion
Vehicles & Transport Equipment: ▼ 26% to R20.0 billion
Base Metals: ▼ 8%
Machinery & Electronics: ▼ 5%
Vegetable Products: ▼ 41%
Top Import Changes:
Machinery & Electronics: ▼ 1.7% to R35.2 billion
Base Metals: ▼ 11%
Chemical Products: ▲ 5%
Textiles: ▼ 11%
Original Equipment Components: ▲ 13%
What This Means for Business Accountants
For accountants — whether in private practice or corporate finance — trade data is a valuable early warning system. Key takeaways:
Watch for cashflow and demand shifts as declining imports may hint at reduced business inputs.
Africa continues to offer growth opportunities, especially in trade advisory and cross-border compliance.
Plan ahead: Export volatility (especially in metals and motor vehicles) could disrupt quarterly forecasts.
South Africa ended the year with a smaller surplus than November’s peak, but the overall trajectory remains positive.
Read more on this on the Trade Statistics webpage.
