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Pricing

2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.97BRnk 36 / 224
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $139MCars
2022
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Exports $6.31BRnk 7 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $2.36BPlatinum
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.38Rnk 12 / 124
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.033Rnk 61 / 124
2022
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GDP$3.07TCURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH13.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 139 / 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 $45,850CURRENT US$
Rnk 23 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH7.92%CURRENT US$
Rnk 122 / 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

United Kingdom-South Africa In 2022, United Kingdom exported $1.97B to South Africa. The main products that United Kingdom exported to South Africa are Cars ($139M), Hard Liquor ($138M), and Refined Petroleum ($95M). During the last 27 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.46%, from $2.93B in 1995 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 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). During the last 27 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 3.06%, from $2.8B in 1995 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 1.38), and 14 in total exports ($469B). That same year, South Africa ranked 61 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.033), and 34 in total exports ($147B).

Latest Trends

January, 2024

About

Overview In January 2024, United Kingdom exported £127M and imported £547M from South Africa, resulting in a negative trade balance of £420M. Between January 2023 and January 2024 the exports of United Kingdom have decreased by £-2.82M (-2.18%) from £129M to £127M, while imports increased by £281M (106%) from £265M to £547M.

Trade In January 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 January 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 January 2024 the exports of United Kingdom were mainly from London Gateway (£35.8M), London Heathrow Airport (£32.6M), Southampton (£28.7M), Middlesbrough (£5.04M), and East Midlands Airport (£3.6M), while imports destinations were mainly London Heathrow Airport (£342M), Southampton (£63.7M), London Gateway (£60.4M), and London (£23.7M).

Growth In January 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 January 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

Flow
Time Scale
Depth
Value
EXPORT GROWTH (January 2023 - January 2024)£-2.82M(-2.18%)
IMPORT GROWTH (January 2023 - January 2024)£281M(106%)
MAIN EXPORTER (January 2024)London Gateway£35.8M

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 27 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.46%, from $2.93B in 1995 to $1.97B in 2022.

In 2022, 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 27 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 3.06%, from $2.8B in 1995 to $6.31B in 2022.

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 2021, countries that imported more from United Kingdom than South Africa were United States ($61.8B), Netherlands ($41.9B), and Ireland ($32.6B).

In 2021, countries that imported more from South Africa than United Kingdom were 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 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with United Kingdom in the exports of Precious Metals ($2.84B), Mineral Products ($878M), and Transportation ($847M).

Service Trade

Bilateral Service Trade

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.

Service trade data is presented based on availability.

Services Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2019)

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization show the product space at the HS4 level colored from blue to yellow.  This mean that the more blue a dot/product is, the more United Kingdom has comparative advantage over South Africa. Similarly, the more yellow a dot/product is, the more South Africa has comparative advantage over United Kingdom.

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

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