In September 2025, Eswatini recorded a trade surplus of E915.9 million, a significant increase from E213.1 million in the previous month.
This positive development was primarily driven by a 15.7 per cent month-on-month surge in exports, underscoring the resilience of the country’s export-oriented industries.
According to the Central Bank of Eswatini’s Recent Economic Developments report for August/September 2025, total exports for the month amounted to E4.3 billion, while imports stood at E3.3 billion, representing a 3.6 per cent month-on-month decline and up by 5.7 per cent year-on-year.
On a year-on-year basis, exports were 1.2 per cent higher, supported mainly by higher concentrates exports in the review period.
The report highlights that soft drink concentrates remained the country’s top export earner, generating E1.9 billion in September 2025, reflecting a robust 39.1 per cent month-on-month increase and a 5.6 per cent rise year-on-year.
Meanwhile, sugar and sugar products exports totalled E729.4 million, representing a 7.2 per cent monthly decline and a sharp 40.8 per cent drop year-on-year, largely due to high base effects from September 2024, when Eswatini shipped larger sugar volumes to the United States. The textile and apparel sector showed steady improvement, rising 4.1 per cent month-on-month and 6.1 per cent year-on-year to reach E420.1 million. Exports of wood and wood articles also increased by 26.9 per cent year-on-year to E280.4 million, although slightly down from August.
On the import side, the total value of goods brought into the country fell to E3.3 billion, down 3.6 per cent month-on-month. The most notable decline was observed in energy products, which dropped by 1.3 per cent due to reduced electricity import bills to E626.2 million. Imports of machinery and electrical equipment rose by 6.8 per cent to E346.4 million.
The report also notes that imports of animal and vegetable products increased by 6.3 per cent month-on-month, mainly due to increased purchases of dairy produce, edible vegetables, and live trees.
Imports of textiles and textile apparel amounted to E268.0 million in September 2025, a growth of 21.3 per cent month-on-month and an increase of 12.8 per cent when compared to September 2024. The total value for vehicles imported was E198.0 million, a 7.0 per cent month-on-month decline and a marginal 1.8 per cent increase year-on-year.
Geographically, South Africa continued to dominate Eswatini’s trade relations, accounting for 76.3 per cent of total exports and 72.2 per cent of total imports during the review month. Exports to Mozambique, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Botswana collectively made up 14.3 per cent of total exports, while imports from China, India, Ireland, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates represented 14.4 per cent of total imports.