Eswatini recorded a preliminary merchandise trade balance surplus (exports more than imports) of E194.09 million in August 2026, with merchandise exports of E3.86 billion and imports of E3.67 billion, inclusive of trade with Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.
According to the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) through the released Merchandise Trade Statistics for August 2026,
the fiscal year-to-date (April 2026 to August 2026) preliminary merchandise trade deficit was E878.39 million in August 2026, a decrease from the cumulative trade deficit of E1.02 billion recorded in the same period the previous year. 
This can be attributed to cumulative merchandise exports of E18.24 billion (+6.69% y-o-y) and imports of E19.12 billion (+5.56% y-o-y).
On a year-on-year basis, merchandise exports increased by E331.43 million (+9.38% y-o-y) to E3.86 billion in August 2026 compared to E3.53 billion in August 2025,
while merchandise imports decreased by E124.60 million (-3.28% y-o-y) to E3.67 billion compared to E3.80 billion in the same month the previous year.
The increase in merchandise trade exports can be attributed to higher exports of Concentrates and Sugar.
Meanwhile, the year-on-year decrease in merchandise imports in August 2026 was due to lower imports of Electrical energy and Concentrates.
Compared to other world zones, Africa is Eswatini’s key trade zone, accounting for 96.14% (E3.72 billion) of total merchandise exports and 72.89% (E2.68 billion) of total merchandise imports in August 2026.
