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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $9.01BRnk 5 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $2.87BPlatinum
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.71BRnk 38 / 223
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $156MCars
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.5Rnk 11 / 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$3.38TCURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH21.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 136 / 195
2023
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GDP 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$49,464CURRENT US$
Rnk 26 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH13.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 124 / 195

About

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.

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.

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 Kingdom ranked 11 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.5), and 14 in total exports ($429B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR9.08B and imported ZAR2.18B from United Kingdom, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR6.9B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-531M (-5.52%) from ZAR9.61B to ZAR9.08B, while imports decreased by ZAR-1.15B (-34.5%) from ZAR3.33B to ZAR2.18B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to United Kingdom were Platinum (ZAR3.24B), Grapes (ZAR539M), Precious Metal Ore (ZAR466M), Coal Briquettes (ZAR368M), and Delivery Trucks (ZAR344M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from United Kingdom were Cars (ZAR272M), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR163M), Hard Liquor (ZAR143M), Stone Processing Machines (ZAR111M), and Computers (ZAR89M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR4.55B), Pretoria (ZAR1.93B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR965M), Cape Town (ZAR812M), and Durban (ZAR330M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR802M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR730M), Port Elizabeth (ZAR232M), Cape Town (ZAR202M), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR104M).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to United Kingdom was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Platinum (ZAR-814M or -20.1%), Delivery Trucks (ZAR-660M or -65.7%), and Precious Metal Ore (ZAR-434M or -48.2%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from United Kingdom was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Electrical Control Boards (ZAR-118M or -92.2%), Documents of title (bonds etc) and... (ZAR-21.7M or -91.9%), and Valves (ZAR-21M or -51.9%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-531M(-5.52%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-1.15B(-34.5%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR4.55B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore United Kingdom and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, 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 2018 to $9.01B in 2023.

In 2018, 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 2023 to $1.71B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

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

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

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

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

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - United Kingdom

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, 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).

During 2018, United Kingdom had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($465M), Transportation ($390M), and Chemical Products ($216M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

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

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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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)

Service Trade

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of South Africa and United Kingdom. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over United Kingdom. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of United Kingdom indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa.

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and United Kingdom (Flag) (2023)

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