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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $8.85BRnk 5 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $5.97BPlatinum
2022
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Exports $2.51BRnk 36 / 211
2022
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Top Product $431MCars
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 2.07Rnk 1 / 133
2022
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GDP$406BCURRENT US$
Rnk 37 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH-6.57%CURRENT US$
Rnk 171 / 186
2022
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 GDP$4.23TCURRENT US$
Rnk 3 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH-32.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 182 / 186
2022
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GDP PC $6,776CURRENT US$
Rnk 95 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 167 / 186
2022
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GDP PC$33,815CURRENT US$
Rnk 32 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH-31.2%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 186

About

South Africa-Japan Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $8.85B to Japan. The main products that South Africa exported to Japan were Platinum ($5.97B), Cars ($657M), and Iron Ore ($399M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 15.4%, from $4.32B in 2017 to $8.85B in 2022.

In 2022, South Africa did not export any services to Japan.

Japan-South Africa Trade: In 2022, Japan exported $2.51B to South Africa. The main products that Japan exported to South Africa were Cars ($431M), Delivery Trucks ($308M), and Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($227M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Japan to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.9%,  from $2.62B in 2017 to $2.51B in 2022.

In 2009, Japan exported services to South Africa worth $748M, with Services not allocated ($374M), Transportation ($128M), and Royalties and license fees ($115M) being the largest in terms of value.

Comparison: In 2022,  South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.076), and 34 in total exports ($147B). That same year, Japan ranked 1 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 2.07), and 4 in total exports ($728B).

Latest Trends

July, 2024

About

Overview In July 2024, South Africa exported ZAR6.61B and imported ZAR3.92B from Japan, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR2.68B. Between July 2023 and July 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-2.04B (-23.6%) from ZAR8.65B to ZAR6.61B, while imports decreased by ZAR-416M (-9.58%) from ZAR4.34B to ZAR3.92B.

Trade In July 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Japan were Platinum (ZAR6.13B), Coal Briquettes (ZAR839M), Manganese Ore (ZAR305M), Raw Aluminium (ZAR248M), and Fuel Wood (ZAR218M). In July 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Japan were Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR1.1B), Cars (ZAR385M), Large Construction Vehicles (ZAR177M), Industrial Printers (ZAR150M), and Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701... (ZAR120M).

Origins In July 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR3.92B), Richards Bay (ZAR1.11B), Saldanha Bay (ZAR491M), Durban (ZAR339M), and Komatipoort (ZAR323M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR2.96B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR401M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR390M), Cape Town (ZAR76.4M), and Johannesburg (ZAR32.5M).

Growth In July 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Japan was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Platinum (ZAR-324M or -5.02%), Cars (ZAR-294M or -99.5%), and Ferroalloys (ZAR-126M or -90.8%). In July 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Japan was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Cars (ZAR-117M or -23.2%), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR-89.4M or -7.53%), and Large Construction Vehicles (ZAR-57.1M or -24.4%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (July 2023 - July 2024)ZAR-2.04B(-23.6%)
IMPORT GROWTH (July 2023 - July 2024)ZAR-416M(-9.58%)
MAIN EXPORTER (July 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR3.92B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Japan and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $8.85B to Japan. The main products exported from South Africa to Japan were Platinum ($5.97B), Cars ($657M), and Iron Ore ($399M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 15.4%, from $4.32B in 2017 to $8.85B in 2022.

In 2017, Japan exported $2.51B to South Africa. The main products exported from Japan to South Africa were Cars ($431M), Delivery Trucks ($308M), and Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($227M). During the last 5 years the exports of Japan to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.9%, from $2.62B in 2022 to $2.51B in 2017.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to Japan (Flag) (2022)

Exports from Japan (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B
Japan
Top DestinationUnited States$137B

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from South Africa than Japan included Mozambique ($5.43B), Botswana ($4.74B), and Zimbabwe ($3.3B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from Japan than South Africa included United States ($137B), China ($135B), and Chinese Taipei ($50.1B).

Difference in imports from Japan (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Japan

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with Japan in the exports of Precious Metals ($5.98B), Mineral Products ($1.04B), and Transportation ($664M).

During 2017, Japan had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Transportation ($1.19B), Machines ($644M), and Metals ($174M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Japan+$292MCoal Briquettes
Top Product Potential Japan South Africa+$180MCars

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

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and Japan (Flag) (2022)

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