According to data released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), in April this year the value of South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 12.8 billion ($877.6 million), up 6.9 percent from March. In the January-April period, South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof increased by 4.3 percent year on year to ZAR 47.86 billion ($3.3 billion).
In April this year, the country's imports of base metals and articles thereof amounted to ZAR 5.3 billion ($363.4 million), rising by 10.4 percent from the previous month, while in the first four months of the current year, South African imports of base metals and articles thereof rose by 12.3 percent year on year, amounting to ZAR 21.04 billion ($1.44 billion).