According to data released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), in March of the current year the value of South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 11.56 billion ($865.62 million), increasing by 15.5 percent from February. In the first quarter of this year, South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof decreased by 8.1 percent year on year to ZAR 30.85 billion ($7.6 billion).
In March this year, the country's imports of base metals and articles thereof amounted to ZAR 4.99 billion ($349 million), down 5.8 percent from February, while in the first quarter South African imports of base metals and articles thereof increased by 27.1 percent year on year, amounting to ZAR 15.58 billion ($2.85 billion).