According to data released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), in December last year the value of
South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 9.67 billion ($855.31 million), decreasing by 11.2 percent from November. In 2013,
South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof increased by 13.4 percent year on year, reaching ZAR 112.665 billion ($9.97 billion).
In December last year, the country's imports of base metals and articles thereof amounted to ZAR 3.33 billion ($294.16 million), down 20.5 percent from November, while in 2013 South African imports of base metals and articles thereof rose 25.6 percent year on year to ZAR 49.57 billion ($4.39 billion).