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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $22.2BRnk 30 / 208
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $1.85BBroadcasting Equipment
2023
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Exports $29.5BRnk 1 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $10.1BGold
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.16Rnk 21 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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GDP$17.8TCURRENT US$
Rnk 2 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH85.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 22 / 195
2023
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 GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
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GDP PC $12,614CURRENT US$
Rnk 80 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH79.7%CURRENT US$
Rnk 17 / 195
2023
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GDP PC$6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195

About

China-South Africa Trade: In 2023, China exported $22.2B to South Africa. The main products that China exported to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($1.85B), Electric Batteries ($1.78B), and Computers ($1.07B). Over the past 5 years the exports of China to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 5.24%, from $17.2B in 2018 to $22.2B in 2023.

In 2023, China did not export any services to South Africa.

South Africa-China Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $29.5B to China. The main products that South Africa exported to China were Gold ($10.1B), Chromium Ore ($4.01B), and Iron Ore ($3.77B). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to China have increased at an annualized rate of 7.19%,  from $20.8B in 2018 to $29.5B in 2023.

In 2023, South Africa did not export any services to China.

Comparison: In 2023,  China ranked 21 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.16), and 1 in total exports ($3.42T). That same year, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B).

Latest Trends

December, 2024

About

Overview In December 2024, China exported $2.05B and imported $2.07B from South Africa, resulting in a negative trade balance of $21.7M. Between December 2023 and December 2024 the exports of China have increased by $185M (9.89%) from $1.87B to $2.05B, while imports increased by $33.7M (1.65%) from $2.04B to $2.07B.

Trade In December 2024, the top exports of China to South Africa were Telephones ($115M), Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701... ($50.9M), Computers ($49.3M), Electric Batteries ($47.2M), and Rubber Footwear ($43.8M). In December 2024 the top imports of China from South Africa were Gold ($1.85B), Chromium Ore ($466M), Iron Ore ($435M), Platinum ($324M), and Ferroalloys ($191M).

Origins In December 2024 the exports of China were mainly from Zhejiang Province ($367M), Guangdong Province ($328M), Jiangsu Province ($245M), Shandong Province ($206M), and Shanghai Province ($168M), while imports destinations were mainly Beijing ($430M), Zhejiang Province ($258M), Guangdong Province ($223M), Fujian Province ($182M), and Shanghai Province ($149M).

Growth In December 2024, the increase in China's year-by-year exports to South Africa was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Telephones ($20M or 21%), Fake Hair ($9.75M or 60.6%), and Rubber Tires ($9.31M or 64.1%). In December 2024, the increase in China's year-by-year imports  from South Africa was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Gold ($1.16B or 169%), Chromium Ore ($283M or 155%), and Platinum ($199M or 160%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (December 2023 - December 2024)$185M(9.89%)
IMPORT GROWTH (December 2023 - December 2024)$33.7M(1.65%)
MAIN EXPORTER (December 2024)Zhejiang Province$367M

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 2023, China exported $22.2B to South Africa. The main products exported from China to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($1.85B), Electric Batteries ($1.78B), and Computers ($1.07B). During the last 5 years the exports of China to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 5.24%, from $17.2B in 2018 to $22.2B in 2023.

In 2018, South Africa exported $29.5B to China. The main products exported from South Africa to China were Gold ($10.1B), Chromium Ore ($4.01B), and Iron Ore ($3.77B). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to China have increased at an annualized rate of 7.19%, from $20.8B in 2023 to $29.5B in 2018.

Exports from China (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to China (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
China
Top DestinationUnited States$436B
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B

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 2023, countries that imported more from China than South Africa included United States ($436B), Hong Kong ($259B), and Japan ($169B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than China included Botswana ($4.28B), Mozambique ($6.13B), and Zimbabwe ($3.47B).

Difference in imports from South Africa (Flag) and China (Flag) (2023)

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 2023, China had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($11.6B), Metals ($1.83B), and Textiles ($1.62B).

During 2018, South Africa had a large net trade with China in the exports of Precious Metals ($14.4B), Mineral Products ($10.7B), and Metals ($2.66B).

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) (2023)

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