South Africa recorded a current account deficit in the second quarter after a strong surplus in the first three months of this year, as the Iran war drove import costs sharply higher, central bank data showed on Thursday. The current account deficit was 2.6% of gross domestic product in the second quarter, compared with a surplus of 2.3% in the first quarter of 2026, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) said.

Trade surplus shrinks as import costs surge on higher fuel prices

South Africa’s current account swung into a deficit in the second quarter of 2026 after six months of surplus, as surging oil and petroleum..