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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $7.34BRnk 6 / 211
2023
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Top Product $4.19BPlatinum
2023
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Exports $1.98BRnk 38 / 211
2023
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Top Product $372MCars
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 2.07Rnk 1 / 132
2023
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GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
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2023
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 GDP$4.2TCURRENT US$
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2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-19.3%CURRENT US$
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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$
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2023
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GDP PC$33,767CURRENT US$
Rnk 38 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.4%CURRENT US$
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About

South Africa-Japan Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $7.34B to Japan. The main products that South Africa exported to Japan were Platinum ($4.19B), Coal Briquettes ($626M), and Iron Ore ($517M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 4.64%, from $5.85B in 2018 to $7.34B in 2023.

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

Japan-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Japan exported $1.98B to South Africa. The main products that Japan exported to South Africa were Cars ($372M), Large Construction Vehicles ($165M), and Delivery Trucks ($126M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Japan to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.76%,  from $2.16B in 2018 to $1.98B in 2023.

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 2023,  South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B). That same year, Japan ranked 1 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 2.07), and 4 in total exports ($766B).

Latest Trends

December, 2024

About

Overview In December 2024, South Africa exported ZAR9.04B and imported ZAR3.83B from Japan, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR5.2B. Between December 2023 and December 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR2.16B (31.5%) from ZAR6.87B to ZAR9.04B, while imports increased by ZAR216M (5.97%) from ZAR3.62B to ZAR3.83B.

Trade In December 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Japan were Platinum (ZAR4.69B), Iron Ore (ZAR626M), Ferroalloys (ZAR426M), Raw Aluminium (ZAR355M), and Fuel Wood (ZAR198M). In December 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Japan were Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR830M), Cars (ZAR238M), Large Construction Vehicles (ZAR213M), Industrial Printers (ZAR192M), and Packaged Medicaments (ZAR133M).

Origins In December 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR4.66B), Richards Bay (ZAR2.05B), Saldanha Bay (ZAR1.11B), Durban (ZAR492M), and East London (ZAR303M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR2.91B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR397M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR364M), Cape Town (ZAR99M), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR24.7M).

Growth In December 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Japan was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Ferroalloys (ZAR414M or 3.26k%), Raw Aluminium (ZAR108M or 43.6%), and Oxometallic or Peroxometallic Acid Salts (ZAR30.3M or 180%). In December 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Japan was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Packaged Medicaments (ZAR116M or 705%), Hot-Rolled Iron (ZAR60.9M or 2.73k%), and Industrial Printers (ZAR41.7M or 27.8%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (December 2023 - December 2024)ZAR2.16B(31.5%)
IMPORT GROWTH (December 2023 - December 2024)ZAR216M(5.97%)
MAIN EXPORTER (December 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR4.66B

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 2023, South Africa exported $7.34B to Japan. The main products exported from South Africa to Japan were Platinum ($4.19B), Coal Briquettes ($626M), and Iron Ore ($517M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 4.64%, from $5.85B in 2018 to $7.34B in 2023.

In 2018, Japan exported $1.98B to South Africa. The main products exported from Japan to South Africa were Cars ($372M), Large Construction Vehicles ($165M), and Delivery Trucks ($126M). During the last 5 years the exports of Japan to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.76%, from $2.16B in 2023 to $1.98B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Japan
Top DestinationUnited States$143B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from Japan than South Africa included United States ($143B), China ($138B), and Chinese Taipei ($43B).

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

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 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Japan in the exports of Precious Metals ($4.2B), Mineral Products ($1.47B), and Metals ($552M).

During 2018, Japan had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Transportation ($686M), Machines ($686M), and Plastics and Rubbers ($144M).

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) (2023)

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