2023
Flag  
GDP
$4.53TCURRENT US$
Rnk 3 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH
18.8%CURRENT US$
Rnk 144 / 195
2023
Flag
 GDP
$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH
-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC 
$54,343CURRENT US$
Rnk 21 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH
15.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 118 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC
$6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 196
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH
-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195

About

Germany-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Germany exported $6.15B to South Africa. The main products that Germany exported to South Africa were Cars ($571M), Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($469M), and Packaged Medicaments ($164M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Germany to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.76%, from $6.72B in 2018 to $6.15B in 2023.

In 2020, Germany exported services to South Africa worth $1.09B, with Royalties and license fees ($349M), Transportation ($306M), and Other business services ($216M) being the largest in terms of value.

South Africa-Germany Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $10.8B to Germany. The main products that South Africa exported to Germany were Cars ($3.8B), Precious Metal Ore ($1.19B), and Platinum ($954M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Germany have increased at an annualized rate of 4.86%,  from $8.52B in 2018 to $10.8B in 2023.

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

Comparison: In 2023,  Germany ranked 5 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.79), and 3 in total exports ($1.57T). That same year, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B).

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, Germany exported $6.15B to South Africa. The main products exported from Germany to South Africa were Cars ($571M), Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($469M), and Packaged Medicaments ($164M). During the last 5 years the exports of Germany to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.76%, from $6.72B in 2018 to $6.15B in 2023.

In 2018, South Africa exported $10.8B to Germany. The main products exported from South Africa to Germany were Cars ($3.8B), Precious Metal Ore ($1.19B), and Platinum ($954M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Germany have increased at an annualized rate of 4.86%, from $8.52B in 2023 to $10.8B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
Germany
Top Destination
United States$157B
South Africa
Top Destination
China$29.5B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from Germany than South Africa included United States ($157B), France ($118B), and Netherlands ($108B).

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

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

Comparative Advantage Germany - South Africa

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, Germany had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($1.95B), Transportation ($1.31B), and Chemical Products ($1B).

During 2018, South Africa had a large net trade with Germany in the exports of Transportation ($4.79B), Mineral Products ($2.56B), and Precious Metals ($1B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential Germany South Africa+$245MCars
Top Product Potential South Africa Germany+$158MCoal Briquettes

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.

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of Germany and South Africa. This means that a dot/product with the flag of Germany 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 Germany.

Product Space of Germany (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Have questions, comments, or concerns?
Send us an e-mail: support@oec.world
Follow @OECtoday on
Created, Designed, and Developed by:
In collaboration with