South Africa's trade balance turned to a surplus in March from a deficit in February, helped mainly by higher exports of precious and semi-precious stones and mineral products, data released by South African Revenue Service showed Friday.

The country recorded a 0.97 billion rand surplus in March compared with a 0.4 billion rand shortfall in February, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said on Friday. Economists had expected a deficit of 0.8 billion rand. In March 2010, the trade balance showed a surplus of 0.17 billion rand.

Exports went up by 15.3 percent month-on-month in March, while imports rose by 12.7 percent.

Economists surveyed by Reuters expected the trade account to register a 0.9 billion rand deficit in March.

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