In August this year, the value of South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 7.6 billion ($920 million), increasing by 12 percent or ZAR 819 million ($99 million) over the previous month, according to data released by the South African Revenue Service. In the first eight months of the current year, South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof was ZAR 61.2 billion ($7.4 billion), down 3.3 percent compared to the first eight months of 2011.
In August, the country's imports of base metals and articles thereof remained stable compared to July this year, amounting to ZAR 3.45 billion ($417.4 million), while in the first eight months of the year South African imports of base metals and articles thereof rose by 24 percent year on year to ZAR 26 billion ($3.1 billion).