Here are SA’s top 10 imports of 2020 – and why rice surged after hard lockdown

• South Africa imported less in 2020 – despite a surge in demand for imported non-woven fabrics and rice.
• Fuel remained the top imported product.
• Despite the weak state of the economy, SA exports were solid.
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The pandemic had a big impact on trade in South Africa, particularly imports.

After a relatively strong start to the year, the value of imports slumped by the second quarter due to the disruption of hard lockdowns across the world on trade – also, the demand for South Africa’s biggest import product, fuel, dwindled as locals were forced to stay at home.

“In the year to the second quarter of 2020, imports declined by 26% while exports declined by 18%. Second quarter trade in 2020 is the lowest level of trade since the second quarter of 2012,” according to data from the Trade and Industrial Policy…