Import Tracker Q1 2025

South Africa maintained a positive trade balance in the first quarter of 2025, though the surplus fell to R28 billion, from R64 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. Year-on-year, the surplus grew from R11 billion from the first quarter of 2024, rebased by CPI to the first quarter of 2025. Exports increased by a marginal R1 billion year-on year, while imports declined by R16 billion. The decline in imports was in part due to an almost R9 billion decrease in crude oil imports, a R2 billion decline in components for motor vehicle imports, and another R2 billion cellphone imports. Year-on-year, the value of the top five imports declined by R7 billion.