South Africa (ZAF) and Ireland (IRL) Trade

2023

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Exports $284MRnk 50 / 211

2023

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About

South Africa-Ireland Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $284M to Ireland. The main products that South Africa exported to Ireland were Platinum ($101M), Delivery Trucks ($27.5M), and Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp ($20.3M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Ireland have increased at an annualized rate of 15.6%, from $137M in 2018 to $284M in 2023.

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

Ireland-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Ireland exported $460M to South Africa. The main products that Ireland exported to South Africa were Packaged Medicaments ($64.8M), Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures ($61.1M), and Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($48.7M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Ireland to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.57%, from $582M in 2018 to $460M in 2023.

In 2020, Ireland exported services to South Africa worth $387M, with Financial services ($179M), Other business services ($171M), and Insurance services ($33.1M) 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, Ireland ranked 17 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.31), and 29 in total exports ($241B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR161M and imported ZAR1.07B from Ireland, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR909M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR60.5M (60.1%) from ZAR101M to ZAR161M, while imports increased by ZAR231M (27.6%) from ZAR839M to ZAR1.07B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Ireland were Raw Nickel (ZAR101M), Grapes (ZAR30M), Interchangeable Tool Parts (ZAR20.1M), Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR15.5M), and Hydrides and other anions (ZAR6.18M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Ireland were Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures (ZAR142M), Packaged Medicaments (ZAR104M), Hard Liquor (ZAR52.2M), Medical Instruments (ZAR34.3M), and Computers (ZAR24.6M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Durban (ZAR87.4M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR41.3M), Cape Town (ZAR20.2M), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR9.48M), and Germiston/Alberton (ZAR1.06M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR572M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR261M), Port Elizabeth (ZAR199M), Johannesburg (ZAR21.4M), and Cape Town (ZAR11.2M).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Ireland was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR4.25M or 37.8%), Hydrides and other anions (ZAR4.11M or 198%), and Iron Wire (ZAR2.45M or 7.82k%). In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports from Ireland was explained primarily by an increase in product imports in Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures (ZAR115M or 431%), Refrigerators (ZAR21.3M or 10.8k%), and Hard Liquor (ZAR19.7M or 60.6%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale

Year

Quarter

Month

Flow

Exports

Imports

Value

Trade Value

Growth

Growth (%)

Depth

HS2

HS4

HS6

EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR60.5M(60.1%)

IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR231M(27.6%)

MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)DurbanZAR87.4M

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

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth

HS2

HS4

HS6

Value

Trade

Growth

Growth (%)

Year

In 2023, South Africa exported $284M to Ireland. The main products exported from South Africa to Ireland were Platinum ($101M), Delivery Trucks ($27.5M), and Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp ($20.3M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Ireland have increased at an annualized rate of 15.6%, from $137M in 2018 to $284M in 2023.

In 2018, Ireland exported $460M to South Africa. The main products exported from Ireland to South Africa were Packaged Medicaments ($64.8M), Vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures ($61.1M), and Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($48.7M). During the last 5 years the exports of Ireland to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.57%, from $582M in 2023 to $460M in 2018.

Exports from South Africa () to Ireland () (2023)

Exports from Ireland () to South Africa () (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color

Exports

Export Growth

Section

Year

South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B

Ireland
Top DestinationUnited States$67.4B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Ireland included China ($29.5B), India ($10.8B), and Mozambique ($6.13B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Ireland than South Africa included United States ($67.4B), Belgium ($18.7B), and Germany ($26.7B).

Difference in imports from Ireland () and South Africa () (2023)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Ireland

Flow

Section

HS2

HS4

Scale

Log

Linear

Year

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Ireland in the exports of Precious Metals ($102M), Vegetable Products ($45.7M), and Metals ($34.6M).

During 2018, Ireland had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Chemical Products ($178M), Machines ($81.4M), and Foodstuffs ($60.4M).

Potential Exports

Depth

Section

HS2

HS4

View

Top 20

Top 15

Top 10

Sort By

Highest Potential

Most Saturated

Section

Top Product Potential South Africa Ireland+$18.2MPlatinum

Top Product Potential Ireland South Africa+$44.2MPackaged Medicaments

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

Irl Year

In 2020, Ireland exported services to South Africa worth $387M, with Financial services ($179M), Other business services ($171M), and Insurance services ($33.1M) being the largest in terms of value.

Service trade data is presented based on availability.

Services Exports from Ireland () to South Africa () (2020)

Service Trade

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

Year

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

Product Space of South Africa () and Ireland () (2023)

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