According to data released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), in August of the current year the value of South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 9.83 billion ($708.2 million), falling 20 percent from July. In the first eight months of this year, South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof decreased by 2.7 percent year on year to ZAR 84.4 billion ($5.21 billion).
In August this year, the country's imports of base metals and articles thereof amounted to ZAR 4.64 billion ($334.2 million), down 12.8 percent from July, while in the first eight months South African imports of base metals and articles thereof increased by 24.7 percent year on year, amounting to ZAR 40.13 billion ($2.9 billion).