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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.97BRnk 36 / 224
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $139MCars
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $6.31BRnk 7 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $2.36BPlatinum
2022
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.42Rnk 12 / 133
2022
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
Flag  
GDP$3.07TCURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH13.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 139 / 186
2022
Flag
 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 $45,850CURRENT US$
Rnk 23 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH7.92%CURRENT US$
Rnk 122 / 186
2022
Flag
GDP PC$6,776CURRENT US$
Rnk 95 / 186
2012-2022
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-17.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 167 / 186

About

United Kingdom-South Africa Trade: In 2022, United Kingdom exported $1.97B to South Africa. The main products that United Kingdom exported to South Africa were Cars ($139M), Hard Liquor ($138M), and Refined Petroleum ($95M). Over the past 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.94%, from $2.54B in 2017 to $1.97B in 2022.

In 2019, United Kingdom exported services to South Africa worth $2.92B, with Other business services ($899M), Travel ($591M), and Royalties and license fees ($397M) being the largest in terms of value.

South Africa-United Kingdom Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $6.31B to United Kingdom. The main products that South Africa exported to United Kingdom were Platinum ($2.36B), Delivery Trucks ($678M), and Precious Metal Ore ($565M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have decreased at an annualized rate of 3.57%,  from $7.85B in 2017 to $6.31B in 2022.

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

Comparison: In 2022,  United Kingdom ranked 12 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.42), and 14 in total exports ($469B). That same year, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.076), and 34 in total exports ($147B).

Latest Trends

September, 2024

About

Overview In September 2024, United Kingdom exported £131M and imported £943M from South Africa, resulting in a negative trade balance of £812M. Between September 2023 and September 2024 the exports of United Kingdom have decreased by £-12.9M (-8.93%) from £144M to £131M, while imports increased by £483M (105%) from £461M to £943M.

Trade In September 2024, the top exports of United Kingdom to South Africa were Refined Petroleum (£21.1M), Cars (£20.8M), Packaged Medicaments (£5.72M), Computers (£3.33M), and Delivery Trucks (£2.95M). In September 2024 the top imports of United Kingdom from South Africa were Platinum (£117M), Grapes (£33.1M), Delivery Trucks (£24.5M), Precious Metal Ore (£21.1M), and Wine (£6.97M).

Origins In September 2024 the exports of United Kingdom were mainly from London Gateway (£54.3M), London Heathrow Airport (£30.9M), Southampton (£13.8M), East Midlands Airport (£4.29M), and Manchester Airport (£4.03M), while imports destinations were mainly London Heathrow Airport (£809M), London Gateway (£56.4M), Southampton (£41.6M), Immingham (£16.2M), and Londonderry (£5.33M).

Growth In September 2024, the decrease in United Kingdom's year-by-year exports to South Africa was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Low-voltage Protection Equipment (£-9.2M or -94.3%), Valves (£-5.14M or -84.5%), and Hard Liquor (£-3.2M or -52.1%). In September 2024, the increase in United Kingdom's year-by-year imports  from South Africa was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Grapes (£5.74M or 21%), Packaged Medicaments (£3.56M or 1.47k%), and Collector's Items (£1.78M or 294%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)£-12.9M(-8.93%)
IMPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)£483M(105%)
MAIN EXPORTER (September 2024)London Gateway£54.3M

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

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore South Africa and United Kingdom Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, United Kingdom exported $1.97B to South Africa. The main products exported from United Kingdom to South Africa were Cars ($139M), Hard Liquor ($138M), and Refined Petroleum ($95M). During the last 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.94%, from $2.54B in 2017 to $1.97B in 2022.

In 2017, South Africa exported $6.31B to United Kingdom. The main products exported from South Africa to United Kingdom were Platinum ($2.36B), Delivery Trucks ($678M), and Precious Metal Ore ($565M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have decreased at an annualized rate of 3.57%, from $7.85B in 2022 to $6.31B in 2017.

Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to United Kingdom (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
United Kingdom
Top DestinationUnited States$61.8B
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from United Kingdom than South Africa included United States ($61.8B), Netherlands ($41.9B), and Ireland ($32.6B).

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

Difference in imports from South Africa (Flag) and United Kingdom (Flag) (2022)

Comparative Advantage United Kingdom - South Africa

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, United Kingdom had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($601M), Transportation ($287M), and Chemical Products ($263M).

During 2017, South Africa had a large net trade with United Kingdom in the exports of Precious Metals ($2.84B), Mineral Products ($878M), and Transportation ($847M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential United Kingdom South Africa+$92.2MRefined Petroleum
Top Product Potential South Africa United Kingdom+$300MGold

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 United Kingdom and South Africa. This means that a dot/product with the flag of United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom.

Product Space of United Kingdom (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2022)

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