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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.71BRnk 38 / 223
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $156MCars
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $9.01BRnk 5 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $2.87BPlatinum
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.5Rnk 11 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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GDP$3.38TCURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH21.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 136 / 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 $49,464CURRENT US$
Rnk 26 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH13.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 124 / 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

United Kingdom-South Africa Trade: In 2023, United Kingdom exported $1.71B to South Africa. The main products that United Kingdom exported to South Africa were Cars ($156M), Tractors ($97.1M), and Delivery Trucks ($92.1M). Over the past 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.5%, from $2.15B in 2018 to $1.71B in 2023.

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 2023, South Africa exported $9.01B to United Kingdom. The main products that South Africa exported to United Kingdom were Platinum ($2.87B), Gold ($2.03B), and Cars ($974M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 1.63%,  from $8.31B in 2018 to $9.01B in 2023.

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

Comparison: In 2023,  United Kingdom ranked 11 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.5), and 14 in total exports ($429B). That same year, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, United Kingdom exported £118M and imported £724M from South Africa, resulting in a negative trade balance of £607M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of United Kingdom have decreased by £-19M (-13.9%) from £137M to £118M, while imports increased by £294M (68.3%) from £431M to £724M.

Trade In November 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 November 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 November 2024 the exports of United Kingdom were mainly from London Heathrow Airport (£38.7M), London Gateway (£37.2M), Southampton (£17.2M), East Midlands Airport (£5.06M), and London Stansted Airport (£2.79M), while imports destinations were mainly London Heathrow Airport (£601M), London Gateway (£49.7M), Southampton (£29.3M), and Immingham (£11.3M).

Growth In November 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 November 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 (November 2023 - November 2024)£-19M(-13.9%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)£294M(68.3%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)London Heathrow Airport£38.7M

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 2023, United Kingdom exported $1.71B to South Africa. The main products exported from United Kingdom to South Africa were Cars ($156M), Tractors ($97.1M), and Delivery Trucks ($92.1M). During the last 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.5%, from $2.15B in 2018 to $1.71B in 2023.

In 2018, South Africa exported $9.01B to United Kingdom. The main products exported from South Africa to United Kingdom were Platinum ($2.87B), Gold ($2.03B), and Cars ($974M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 1.63%, from $8.31B in 2023 to $9.01B in 2018.

Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to United Kingdom (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
United Kingdom
Top DestinationUnited States$59.7B
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B

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 2023, countries that imported more from United Kingdom than South Africa included United States ($59.7B), Ireland ($29.1B), and Netherlands ($29.8B).

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

Difference in imports from South Africa (Flag) and United Kingdom (Flag) (2023)

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 2023, United Kingdom had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($465M), Transportation ($390M), and Chemical Products ($216M).

During 2018, South Africa had a large net trade with United Kingdom in the exports of Precious Metals ($5.06B), Transportation ($1.58B), and Mineral Products ($696M).

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) (2023)

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