South Africa had a trade surplus of R35 billion in the first quarter of 2020, up from a trade deficit of R4 billion in the first quarter of 2019. With the exception of the first quarter of 2017, South Africa has had a trade deficit in the first quarter of each year as far back as 2010. In 2020 constant Rand terms, imports declined by 5% between the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, but grew by 30% from the first quarter of 2010. In contrast, exports grew by 8% in the year to the first quarter of 2020, and grew by 55% between 2010 and 2020.
See Imports localisation and supply chain disruption study - First Quarter 2020