NEW: World Trade TARIFFS Simulator!
NEW: 2023 Data and Complexity Rankings
Sign In
Pricing

2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $10.8BRnk 4 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $4.82BGold
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $7.43BRnk 14 / 220
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $2.63BRefined Petroleum
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.65Rnk 39 / 132
2023
Flag  
GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
Flag
 GDP$3.57TCURRENT US$
Rnk 5 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH92.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 19 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC $6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC$2,481CURRENT US$
Rnk 148 / 196
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH73.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 22 / 195

About

South Africa-India Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $10.8B to India. The main products that South Africa exported to India were Gold ($4.82B), Coal Briquettes ($3.55B), and Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp ($517M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to India have increased at an annualized rate of 6.62%, from $7.84B in 2018 to $10.8B in 2023.

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

India-South Africa Trade: In 2023, India exported $7.43B to South Africa. The main products that India exported to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($2.63B), Cars ($1.3B), and Packaged Medicaments ($572M). Over the past 5 years the exports of India to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 12.9%,  from $4.04B in 2018 to $7.43B in 2023.

In 2023, India 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, India ranked 39 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.65), and 12 in total exports ($441B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR7.06B and imported ZAR13B from India, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR5.96B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-990M (-12.3%) from ZAR8.05B to ZAR7.06B, while imports increased by ZAR846M (6.95%) from ZAR12.2B to ZAR13B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to India were Coal Briquettes (ZAR3.73B), Manganese Ore (ZAR371M), Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR323M), Phosphoric Acid (ZAR261M), and Scrap Iron (ZAR174M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from India were Cars (ZAR2.45B), Refined Petroleum (ZAR1.67B), Packaged Medicaments (ZAR1.02B), Telephones (ZAR793M), and Copper Wire (ZAR310M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Richards Bay (ZAR4.58B), Durban (ZAR1.38B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR346M), Saldanha Bay (ZAR243M), and Cape Town (ZAR223M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR9.24B), Cape Town (ZAR1.09B), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR964M), Richards Bay (ZAR726M), and Port Elizabeth (ZAR450M).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to India was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Coal Briquettes (ZAR-629M or -14.4%), Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR-277M or -46.1%), and Manganese Ore (ZAR-179M or -32.6%). In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from India was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Cars (ZAR751M or 44.2%), Telephones (ZAR630M or 388%), and Copper Wire (ZAR309M or 93.8k%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-990M(-12.3%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR846M(6.95%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Richards BayZAR4.58B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore India and South Africa Data

Go to Bulk Download

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $10.8B to India. The main products exported from South Africa to India were Gold ($4.82B), Coal Briquettes ($3.55B), and Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp ($517M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to India have increased at an annualized rate of 6.62%, from $7.84B in 2018 to $10.8B in 2023.

In 2018, India exported $7.43B to South Africa. The main products exported from India to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($2.63B), Cars ($1.3B), and Packaged Medicaments ($572M). During the last 5 years the exports of India to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 12.9%, from $4.04B in 2023 to $7.43B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
India
Top DestinationUnited States$85.5B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than India included China ($29.5B), Botswana ($4.28B), and Mozambique ($6.13B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from India than South Africa included United States ($85.5B), United Arab Emirates ($28.8B), and Bangladesh ($11.3B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - India

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with India in the exports of Precious Metals ($5.22B), Mineral Products ($4.26B), and Paper Goods ($555M).

During 2018, India had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Mineral Products ($2.65B), Transportation ($1.65B), and Chemical Products ($1.02B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa India+$729MGold
Top Product Potential India South Africa+$534MRefined 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.

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

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

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

Keep Exploring

Have questions, comments, or concerns?
Send us an e-mail: support@oec.world
Follow @OECtoday on
Created, Designed, and Developed by:
In collaboration with
About the OECPrivacy PolicyTerms