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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $16.5MRnk 123 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $11.9MCoal Briquettes
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.74MRnk 67 / 130
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $312kTropical Fruits
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.084Rnk 58 / 132
2023
Flag  
GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
Flag
 GDP$405BCURRENT US$
Rnk 36 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH-19.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 189 / 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$4,466CURRENT US$
Rnk 125 / 196
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-28.2%CURRENT US$
Rnk 186 / 195

About

South Africa-Iran Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $16.5M to Iran. The main products that South Africa exported to Iran were Coal Briquettes ($11.9M), Perfume Plants ($1.22M), and Surveying Equipment ($531k). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Iran have decreased at an annualized rate of 32.2%, from $116M in 2018 to $16.5M in 2023.

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

Iran-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Iran exported $1.74M to South Africa. The main products that Iran exported to South Africa were Tropical Fruits ($312k), Vegetable Saps ($251k), and Broadcasting Equipment ($211k). Over the past 5 years the exports of Iran to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 44%,  from $31.7M in 2018 to $1.74M in 2023.

In 2023, Iran 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, Iran ranked 58 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.084), and 92 in total exports ($13.2B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR104M and imported ZAR2.59M from Iran, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR101M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR97.9M (1.7k%) from ZAR5.75M to ZAR104M, while imports increased by ZAR849k (48.8%) from ZAR1.74M to ZAR2.59M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Iran were Sowing Seeds (ZAR802k) and Aircraft parts for spacecraft, UAVs, and... (ZAR372k). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Iran were Animal Fat (ZAR591k), Tropical Fruits (ZAR443k), Medical Instruments (ZAR413k), Confectionery Sugar (ZAR232k), and Valves (ZAR209k).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR71.3M), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR23.1M), King Shaka Int Airport (ZAR8.57M), and Pietermaritzburg (ZAR666k), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR2.05M), Johannesburg (ZAR484k), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR43.5k), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR14.6k), and Pretoria (ZAR286).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Iran was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in . In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Iran was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in .

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR97.9M(1.7k%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR849k(48.8%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR71.3M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Iran and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $16.5M to Iran. The main products exported from South Africa to Iran were Coal Briquettes ($11.9M), Perfume Plants ($1.22M), and Surveying Equipment ($531k). During the last 11 years the exports of South Africa to Iran have decreased at an annualized rate of 9.98%, from $97.1k in 2005 to $16.5M in 2023.

In 2018, Iran exported $1.74M to South Africa. The main products exported from Iran to South Africa were Tropical Fruits ($312k), Vegetable Saps ($251k), and Broadcasting Equipment ($211k). During the last 5 years the exports of Iran to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 44%, from $31.7M in 2017 to $1.74M in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Iran
Top DestinationChina$4.59B

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

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from Iran than South Africa included Turkey ($2.18B), Pakistan ($943M), and Armenia ($597M).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Iran

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Iran in the exports of Mineral Products ($12M), Vegetable Products ($1.53M), and Instruments ($938k).

During 2018, Iran had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Vegetable Products ($638k), Machines ($422k), and Textiles ($341k).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Iran+$3.15MCoal Briquettes
Top Product Potential Iran South Africa+$415kOther Nuts

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

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

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