Question NW2455 to the Minister of Trade and Industry
31 August 2017 - NW2455
Ketabahle, Ms V to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 1993 on 4 August 2017, the companies importing the products are recorded when his department records import; if so, (a) who are the companies who accounted for the top five imports in each category and (b) what was the rand value in the (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years?
Reply:
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is the legislatively empowered controlling entity for statistics on the importation and exportation of goods. Exercising this control entails record-keeping, verification, publication and analysis of trade data. SARS does not ordinarily disclose the names of either importing or exporting companies to the Department of Trade and Industry. SARS considers this information to be highly confidential and, in acting within the confines of the Customs and Excise Act, Act 91 of 1964 as amended, SARS may only disclose such information in very limited circumstances.