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Data from World Bank. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
South AfricaSouth Africa Trade (% of GDP) fell to 60.91 Percent in December 2025
World BankYearlyReleased December 2025
South Africa Trade (% of GDP) fell to 60.91 Percent in December 2025, down 0.74 Percent from November's 61.65 Percent reading.
Latest Release
60.911097
Actual
—
Consensus
61.646770
Previous
Sigmacast Track Record
Sigmacast track record will appear here once this indicator has been released 3+ times since Sigmanomics began tracking.
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Co-movement | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD/ZAR | ▼ Inverse | −0.50 | FOREX | Moves against | → View |
| EUR/ZAR | ▼ Inverse | −0.40 | FOREX | Moves against | → View |
| XAU/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.40 | COMMODITIES | Moves with | → View |
| EUR/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.30 | FOREX | Moves with | → View |
| S&P 500 | ▲ Direct | +0.30 | INDEX | Moves with | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Trade (% of GDP) (South Africa) was reported at 60.91 Percent in December 2025. The reading fell from the previous value of 61.65 Percent. This is classified as a medium-impact indicator released on a yearly basis.
WHY IT MATTERS
The indicator has been trending downward over the last three releases. The trailing three releases averaged 62.75 Percent, up from the prior three at 57.29 Percent. In December readings over the past 3 years, Trade (% of GDP) has averaged 62.75 Percent.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is negatively correlated with USD/ZAR (Bullish ZAR). A secondary relationship exists with XAU/USD, positively correlated (Watch).
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Same-country events in the next 14 days include Balance of Trade (Aug 28).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update December 2025.
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Trade (% of GDP) - ZA
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About Trade (% of GDP) — South Africa
DEFINITION
South Africa's Trade (% of GDP) for 2025 registered at 60.911097%, down from 61.646770% in 2024, indicating a contraction in trade activity as a share of GDP. The decline from 2024's 61.65% to 2025's 60.91% reflects a slight pullback after previous expansion. Market participants will monitor upcoming economic data for further trade momentum signals. Updated 7/1/26
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
Aggregate growth figures anchor cyclical positioning across asset classes and inform fiscal and monetary policy debate. Surprises against consensus can drive short-term moves, particularly when the print breaks an established trend. Released annually.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a similar reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bearish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary headwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with USD/ZAR (Bullish ZAR, r=-0.50) — a useful reference for forex-focused traders.
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EXPECTED ZONE
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Economic Calendar - ZA Events
| Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | ZA | Leading Business Cycle Indicator MoM | -0.3 | -0.5 | 0.80 | Low | |
| Thursday, August 27, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
| 09:30 | ZA | Producer Price Index YoY | 7.5 | 7.2 | 8.15 | Low | |
| 09:30 | ZA | Producer Price Index MoM | -0.1 | -0.4 | 0.30 | Low | |