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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $4.28BRnk 9 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $773MRefined Petroleum
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $548MRnk 4 / 130
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $152MInsulated Wire
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI -0.41Rnk 80 / 132
2023
Flag  
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$19.4BCURRENT US$
Rnk 125 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH35.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 102 / 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$7,820CURRENT US$
Rnk 99 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH17.3%CURRENT US$
Rnk 110 / 195

About

South Africa-Botswana Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $4.28B to Botswana. The main products that South Africa exported to Botswana were Refined Petroleum ($773M), Diamonds ($247M), and Flavored Water ($158M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Botswana have increased at an annualized rate of 1.22%, from $4.03B in 2018 to $4.28B in 2023.

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

Botswana-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Botswana exported $548M to South Africa. The main products that Botswana exported to South Africa were Insulated Wire ($152M), Diamonds ($93.4M), and Carbonates ($61.8M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Botswana to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 2.33%,  from $489M in 2018 to $548M in 2023.

In 2023, Botswana 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, Botswana ranked 80 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.41), and 122 in total exports ($6.59B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR5.95B and imported ZAR625M from Botswana, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR5.33B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-257M (-4.14%) from ZAR6.21B to ZAR5.95B, while imports decreased by ZAR-206M (-24.8%) from ZAR830M to ZAR625M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Botswana were Refined Petroleum (ZAR1.12B), Delivery Trucks (ZAR118M), Corn (ZAR113M), Wheat (ZAR77.5M), and Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR64.6M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Botswana were Insulated Wire (ZAR211M), Bovine (ZAR173M), Carbonates (ZAR124M), Diamonds (ZAR117M), and Coal Briquettes (ZAR48.9M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Skilpadsnek (ZAR2.36B), Kopfontein (ZAR2.32B), Ramatlabama (ZAR587M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR397M), and Johannesburg (ZAR189M), while imports destinations were mainly Kopfontein (ZAR234M), Groblers Bridge (ZAR119M), Skilpadsnek (ZAR86.3M), Ramatlabama (ZAR83.7M), and O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR50.8M).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Botswana was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Electricity (ZAR-44.8M or -54.3%), Vinyl Chloride Polymers (ZAR-27.5M or -68.1%), and Rice (ZAR-17.9M or -70.1%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Botswana was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Diamonds (ZAR-195M or -62.5%), Gold (ZAR-4.77M or -17.7%), and Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures (ZAR-4.13M or -100%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-257M(-4.14%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-206M(-24.8%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)SkilpadsnekZAR2.36B

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 Botswana and South Africa trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Botswana and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $4.28B to Botswana. The main products exported from South Africa to Botswana were Refined Petroleum ($773M), Diamonds ($247M), and Flavored Water ($158M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Botswana have increased at an annualized rate of 1.22%, from $4.03B in 2018 to $4.28B in 2023.

In 2018, Botswana exported $548M to South Africa. The main products exported from Botswana to South Africa were Insulated Wire ($152M), Diamonds ($93.4M), and Carbonates ($61.8M). During the last 5 years the exports of Botswana to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 2.33%, from $489M in 2023 to $548M in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Botswana
Top DestinationUnited Arab Emirates$1.81B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Botswana included China ($29.5B), United States ($13B), and Germany ($10.8B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Botswana than South Africa included Cambodia ($68M) and Anguilla ($33.6M).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Botswana

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Botswana in the exports of Mineral Products ($886M), Foodstuffs ($611M), and Machines ($526M).

During 2018, Botswana had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($168M), Precious Metals ($125M), and Chemical Products ($64.9M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Botswana+$4.88MCars
Top Product Potential Botswana South Africa+$22.3MDiamonds

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

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

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