JOHANNESBURG Aug 31 (Reuters) – South Africa’s trade
deficit widened to 6.7 billion rand ($789.75 million) in July
from a 5.7 billion rand shortfall in June, the South African
Revenue Service said on Friday.
Exports increased by 2.9 percent month-on-month to 63.5
billion rand in July while imports rose by 4.1 percent to 70.2
billion rand, SARS data showed.
Economists surveyed by Reuters expected a shortfall of 5.6
billion rand for July.
The cumulative deficit for the year to date amounted to 57.3
billion rand compared to 6.9 billion rand during the same period
in 2011, SARS said.
($1 = 8.4836 South African rand)
(Reporting by Stella Mapenzauswa; Editing by Vuyani Ndaba)
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