SA records trade surplus in December

Pretoria - South Africa recorded a trade surplus of R3.7 billion in December 2009, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said on Friday.

The surplus is as a result of a decrease in imports of 13.73 percent and a decrease in exports of 1.08 percent. In December, exports amounted to R45.36 billion and imports came to R41.69 billion resulting in a surplus of R3.67 billion.

"The cumulative trade deficit for 2009 is R25.84 billion compared to a deficit of R71.63 in 2008, a decline of R45.79 billion or 64percent," said SARS.