Ezulwini – The Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has reported that the country recorded a preliminary merchandise trade balance deficit of E397.69 million in June 2026, with exports falling short of imports during the month.
According to the ERS, merchandise exports stood at E3.40 billion while imports reached E3.80 billion in June, figures that include trade with fellow Southern African Customs Union (SACU) members Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.
The revenue authority released the June 2026 merchandise trade statistics from Ezulwini on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
Over the fiscal year to date, covering April 2026 to June 2026, the preliminary trade deficit widened to E813.46 million, up from the cumulative deficit of E747.44 million recorded over the same period the previous year. The ERS linked this to cumulative exports of E10.66 billion, a rise of 9.16 percent year on year, against imports of E11.47 billion, which grew by 9.14 percent over the same comparison.
On a year on year basis, merchandise exports rose by E138.56 million, or 4.24 percent, to E3.40 billion in June 2026 compared with E3.27 billion in June 2025. Imports climbed by E277.33 million, or 7.87 percent, reaching E3.80 billion against E3.53 billion in the same month last year.
The ERS attributed the growth in exports to higher shipments of chemical products and undenatured ethyl alcohol. The rise in imports was driven mainly by increased purchases of petrol and diesel.
Africa remained the Kingdom’s dominant trade partner during the month, accounting for 94.71 percent, or E3.22 billion, of total merchandise exports and 69.83 percent, or E2.66 billion, of total merchandise imports in June 2026.
The June 2026 merchandise trade report
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