In June this year, the value of South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 7.7 billion ($919.4 million), increasing by two percent or ZAR 118 million ($14.05 million) over the previous month, according to data released by the South African Revenue Service. In the first half of the current year, South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof was ZAR 46.8 billion ($5.6 billion), down 4.3 percent compared to the first half of 2011.
The country's imports of base metals and articles thereof decreased by 14 percent or ZAR 498 million ($59.3 million) compared to May this year, falling to ZAR 3 billion ($357.4 million), while in the first half of the year South African imports of base metals and articles thereof rose by 24.6 percent year on year to ZAR 19.1 billion ($2.3 billion).