In May this year, the value of South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 7.6 billion ($935 million), increasing by nine percent or ZAR 630 million ($77.5 million) over the previous month, according to data released by the South African Revenue Service. In the first five months of the current year, South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof was ZAR 39.1 billion ($4.8 billion), down 6.3 percent compared to the first five months of 2011.
The country's total exports rose 20.4 percent to ZAR 62.8 billion ($7.7 billion) in May from the previous month.