In December last year, the value of South Africa's exports of base metals and articles thereof totaled ZAR 6.8 billion ($760 million), decreasing by 23 percent or ZAR 2 billion ($223.5 million) from the previous month, according to data released by the South African Revenue Service. In the whole of 2012, South Africa's export value of base metals and articles thereof was ZAR 91.4 billion ($10.2 billion), down 3.1 percent compared to 2011.
In December, the country's imports of base metals and articles thereof decreased by 32.9 percent or ZAR 1.15 billion ($128.5 million) compared to November, amounting to ZAR 2.35 billion ($262.6 million), while in 2012 South African imports of base metals and articles thereof rose by 11.9 percent year on year to ZAR 38.8 billion ($4.3 billion).
