Ezulwini – Eswatini recorded a preliminary merchandise trade deficit of E232.68 million in July 2026, as imports exceeded exports, according to trade statistics released by the Eswatini Revenue Service.

The country exported goods worth E3.72 billion during the month, while imports amounted to E3.96 billion. The figures include trade with the Southern African Customs Union countries, namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.

The July deficit was significantly higher than the E6.21 million deficit recorded in July 2025. Compared with June 2026, the deficit also increased from E402.72 million.

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For the first four months of the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, from April to July 2026, Eswatini recorded a cumulative trade deficit of E1.05 billion. This was an increase from the E753.65 million deficit recorded during the same period in the previous financial year.

Cumulative exports rose by 5.99 percent year on year to E14.38 billion, while imports increased by 7.76 percent to E15.43 billion.

On a year on year basis, July exports declined by E81.15 million, or 2.13 percent, from E3.80 billion in July 2025 to E3.72 billion.

The decline was attributed mainly to lower exports of concentrates and chewing gum.

Imports, meanwhile, increased by E145.32 million, or 3.81 percent, from E3.81 billion in July 2025 to E3.96 billion in July 2026. The increase was largely driven by higher imports of petrol and diesel.

Africa remained Eswatini’s main trading region during the month. The continent accounted for 95.25 percent of total exports, valued at E3.55 billion, and 72.73 percent of imports, valued at E2.88 billion.

Eswatini’s exports to the rest of the world, excluding SACU, amounted to E2.67 billion in July, compared with E2.68 billion during the same month last year. Imports from outside SACU rose to E2.78 billion from E2.71 billion.

This resulted in a preliminary trade deficit of E111.63 million with non SACU countries in July, compared with a deficit of E31.92 million in July 2025.

For the April to July period, exports to the rest of the world increased by 3.33 percent to E10.01 billion, while imports rose by 4.95 percent to E10.67 billion. The resulting cumulative deficit stood at E653.37 million, compared with E473.69 million in the previous financial year.

During July, Eswatini’s largest import categories included mineral products at E766.19 million, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco at E387.58 million, chemical products at E486.25 million, machinery and electrical equipment at E478.17 million, and textiles at E309.74 million.

Imports of vegetable products rose by 29.66 percent to E308.99 million, while imports of machinery and electrical equipment increased by 15.33 percent to E478.17 million.

Imports of wood and wood products rose by 35.66 percent to E69.09 million, while vehicle and transport equipment imports grew by 7.88 percent to E279.58 million.

On the export side, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco remained among the country’s largest export categories, generating E1.20 billion in July.

Exports of chemical products amounted to E1.33 billion, although this represented an 11.87 percent decline compared with July 2025.

Wood and wood products generated E302.54 million, while textile exports amounted to E474.33 million. Machinery and electrical equipment contributed E74.79 million.

Exports of precious stones and metals increased by 135.59 percent year on year to E17.09 million, while footwear, headgear and related products rose by 132.61 percent to E11.13 million.

For the first four months of the fiscal year, mineral products were Eswatini’s biggest export category at E3.27 billion, followed by chemical products at E2.02 billion, machinery and electrical equipment at E1.74 billion, prepared foodstuffs and beverages at E1.42 billion, and textiles at E1.25 billion.

The Eswatini Revenue Service released the statistics on Thursday, 13 August 2026. Further information is available from the ERS through info@ers.org.sz or its official website, www.ers.org.sz.