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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $23.5BRnk 33 / 211
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $1.78BBroadcasting Equipment
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $23.4BRnk 1 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $8.85BGold
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.12Rnk 22 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
Flag  
GDP$18TCURRENT US$
Rnk 2 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH111%CURRENT US$
Rnk 11 / 186
2022
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 GDP$406BCURRENT US$
Rnk 37 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH-6.57%CURRENT US$
Rnk 171 / 186
2022
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GDP PC $12,720CURRENT US$
Rnk 67 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH102%CURRENT US$
Rnk 8 / 186
2022
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GDP PC$6,776CURRENT US$
Rnk 95 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 167 / 186

About

China-South Africa Trade: In 2022, China exported $23.5B to South Africa. The main products that China exported to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($1.78B), Computers ($1.04B), and Electric Batteries ($777M). Over the past 5 years the exports of China to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 8.99%, from $15.3B in 2017 to $23.5B in 2022.

In 2022, China did not export any services to South Africa.

South Africa-China Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $23.4B to China. The main products that South Africa exported to China were Gold ($8.85B), Diamonds ($3.36B), and Platinum ($1.83B). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to China have increased at an annualized rate of 4.68%,  from $17.8B in 2017 to $23.4B in 2022.

In 2022, South Africa did not export any services to China.

Comparison: In 2022,  China ranked 22 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.12), and 1 in total exports ($3.73T). That same year, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.076), and 34 in total exports ($147B).

Latest Trends

October, 2024

About

Overview In October 2024, China exported $1.92B and imported $2.31B from South Africa, resulting in a negative trade balance of $392M. Between October 2023 and October 2024 the exports of China have increased by $194M (11.2%) from $1.72B to $1.92B, while imports decreased by $-571M (-19.8%) from $2.88B to $2.31B.

Trade In October 2024, the top exports of China to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($155M), Electric Batteries ($97M), Telephones ($94.9M), Electrical Transformers ($73.6M), and Cars ($69.5M). In October 2024 the top imports of China from South Africa were Gold ($688M), Iron Ore ($349M), Chromium Ore ($182M), Manganese Ore ($134M), and Ferroalloys ($126M).

Origins In October 2024 the exports of China were mainly from Zhejiang Province ($419M), Guangdong Province ($396M), Jiangsu Province ($222M), Shandong Province ($167M), and Shanghai Province ($105M), while imports destinations were mainly Beijing ($884M), Guangdong Province ($237M), Zhejiang Province ($199M), Fujian Province ($133M), and Jiangsu Province ($129M).

Growth In October 2024, the increase in China's year-by-year exports to South Africa was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Refined Petroleum ($155M or 263k%), Electric Batteries ($64.3M or 197%), and Electrical Transformers ($52.8M or 254%). In October 2024, the decrease in China's year-by-year imports  from South Africa was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Iron Ore ($-209M or -37.4%), Coal Briquettes ($-184M or -74.5%), and Gold ($-175M or -20.3%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (October 2023 - October 2024)$194M(11.2%)
IMPORT GROWTH (October 2023 - October 2024)$-571M(-19.8%)
MAIN EXPORTER (October 2024)Zhejiang Province$419M

This section shows exports and imports data at subnational level for China. Click any date in the line plot, any subnational region in the geomap or any product to explore the exports or imports behavior of China over time.

To check South Africa and China trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore South Africa and China Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, China exported $23.5B to South Africa. The main products exported from China to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($1.78B), Computers ($1.04B), and Electric Batteries ($777M). During the last 5 years the exports of China to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 8.99%, from $15.3B in 2017 to $23.5B in 2022.

In 2017, South Africa exported $23.4B to China. The main products exported from South Africa to China were Gold ($8.85B), Diamonds ($3.36B), and Platinum ($1.83B). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to China have increased at an annualized rate of 4.68%, from $17.8B in 2022 to $23.4B in 2017.

Exports from China (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to China (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
China
Top DestinationUnited States$551B
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B

This map shows whether countries import more from China or South Africa. Each country is colored based on the difference in imports they receive from China and South Africa or the difference in the growth in imports.

In 2022, countries that imported more from China than South Africa included United States ($551B), Hong Kong ($276B), and Japan ($178B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from South Africa than China included Botswana ($4.74B), Namibia ($3.3B), and Mozambique ($5.43B).

Difference in imports from South Africa (Flag) and China (Flag) (2022)

Comparative Advantage China - South Africa

Flow
Scale

This chart compares trade between China and South Africa by product, considering products traded by both, China and South Africa.

During 2022, China had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($9.65B), Metals ($2.46B), and Textiles ($2.1B).

During 2017, South Africa had a large net trade with China in the exports of Precious Metals ($14.1B), Mineral Products ($5.62B), and Metals ($2.26B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential China South Africa+$305MTelephones
Top Product Potential South Africa China+$587MIron Ore

We estimate the export potential of an economy for each product and destination using an extension of the bilateral relatedness model of Jun et al. (2019).This extended gravity model considers similarities among products and geographies and explains more than 50% of the variance in future trade flows.

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Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of China and South Africa. This means that a dot/product with the flag of China indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over China.

Product Space of China (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2022)

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