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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $4.58BRnk 8 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $1.97BDiamonds
2023
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Exports $4.24BRnk 18 / 216
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $3.32BRefined Petroleum
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.15Rnk 54 / 132
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$514BCURRENT US$
Rnk 27 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH28.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 118 / 195
2023
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GDP PC $6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195
2023
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GDP PC$49,041CURRENT US$
Rnk 27 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-5.73%CURRENT US$
Rnk 161 / 195

About

South Africa-United Arab Emirates Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $4.58B to United Arab Emirates. The main products that South Africa exported to United Arab Emirates were Diamonds ($1.97B), Gold ($1.04B), and Citrus ($185M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Arab Emirates have increased at an annualized rate of 6.57%, from $3.33B in 2018 to $4.58B in 2023.

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

United Arab Emirates-South Africa Trade: In 2023, United Arab Emirates exported $4.24B to South Africa. The main products that United Arab Emirates exported to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($3.32B), Copper Wire ($367M), and Diamonds ($115M). Over the past 5 years the exports of United Arab Emirates to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 22.6%,  from $1.53B in 2018 to $4.24B in 2023.

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

Comparison: In 2023,  South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B). That same year, United Arab Emirates ranked 54 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.15), and 21 in total exports ($357B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR4.39B and imported ZAR3.77B from United Arab Emirates, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR623M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR1.47B (50.4%) from ZAR2.92B to ZAR4.39B, while imports decreased by ZAR-897M (-19.2%) from ZAR4.67B to ZAR3.77B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to United Arab Emirates were Diamonds (ZAR846M), Ferroalloys (ZAR356M), Jewellery (ZAR135M), Blank Audio Media (ZAR131M), and Pitted Fruits (ZAR94.1M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from United Arab Emirates were Refined Petroleum (ZAR5.46B), Copper Wire (ZAR213M), Raw Sugar (ZAR65.7M), Raw Aluminium (ZAR47.7M), and Ethylene Polymers (ZAR22.4M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR2.16B), Durban (ZAR1.65B), Komatipoort (ZAR130M), Cape Town (ZAR101M), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR88.1M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR3.52B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR151M), Cape Town (ZAR40.8M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR36.2M), and Komatipoort (ZAR14.4M).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to United Arab Emirates was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Diamonds (ZAR354M or 71.9%), Jewellery (ZAR135M or 142k%), and Blank Audio Media (ZAR131M or 264k%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from United Arab Emirates was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Flavored Water (ZAR-29.9M or -63.2%), Propylene Polymers (ZAR-22.4M or -80%), and Liquid Dispersing Machines (ZAR-11M or -58.6%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR1.47B(50.4%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-897M(-19.2%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR2.16B

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

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore United Arab Emirates and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $4.58B to United Arab Emirates. The main products exported from South Africa to United Arab Emirates were Diamonds ($1.97B), Gold ($1.04B), and Citrus ($185M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Arab Emirates have increased at an annualized rate of 6.57%, from $3.33B in 2018 to $4.58B in 2023.

In 2018, United Arab Emirates exported $4.24B to South Africa. The main products exported from United Arab Emirates to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($3.32B), Copper Wire ($367M), and Diamonds ($115M). During the last 5 years the exports of United Arab Emirates to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 22.6%, from $1.53B in 2023 to $4.24B in 2018.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to United Arab Emirates (Flag) (2023)

Exports from United Arab Emirates (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
United Arab Emirates
Top DestinationChina$40.2B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than United Arab Emirates included United States ($13B), United Kingdom ($9.01B), and Mozambique ($6.13B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from United Arab Emirates than South Africa included Japan ($37.4B), India ($38.2B), and Iraq ($22.6B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - United Arab Emirates

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with United Arab Emirates in the exports of Precious Metals ($3.17B), Vegetable Products ($392M), and Metals ($221M).

During 2018, United Arab Emirates had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Mineral Products ($3.35B), Metals ($417M), and Precious Metals ($131M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa United Arab Emirates+$154MGold
Top Product Potential United Arab Emirates South Africa+$22.2MGold

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 South Africa and United Arab Emirates. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over United Arab Emirates. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of United Arab Emirates indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa.

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and United Arab Emirates (Flag) (2023)

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