February trade deficit R8.45 billion

South Africa's trade deficit was R8.5 billion in February, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) said on Tuesday.

The February deficit was due to exports of R76.8bn and imports of R85.3bn, Sars said in a statement.

"Exports increased from January 2015 to February 2015 by R9.7bn (14.6 percent) and imports decreased from January 2015 to February 2015 by R5.9bn (6.5 percent)."

The cumulative deficit for 2015 was R32.7bn, compared to R15.5bn in 2014.

The figures included trade data with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.

According to month-on-month export movements, vehicle and transport equipment increased by R4.6bn (74.4 percent), precious metals and stones by R2.9bn (30.4 percent), and base metals by R1.2bn (7.9 percent).

Mineral products decreased by R1.9bn, or 10.6 percent.

Month-on-month import movements saw mineral products drop by R4.2bn (-22.5 percent), machinery and electronics decreased by R2.4bn (-11.1 percent), and vehicle and transport equipment by R1.3bn (-12.5 percent).

Plastics and rubber dropped by R875 million (-21.5 percent).

The imports of vegetable products rose by R1.3bn (98.9 percent).