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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $679MRnk 34 / 211
2023
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Top Product $119MSemi-Finished Iron
2023
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Exports $50.9MRnk 29 / 187
2023
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Top Product $25.4MGold
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI -0.47Rnk 86 / 132
2023
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GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
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 GDP$108BCURRENT US$
Rnk 67 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH75.2%CURRENT US$
Rnk 34 / 195
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$
Rnk 178 / 195
2023
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GDP PC$1,952CURRENT US$
Rnk 160 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH42.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 57 / 195

About

South Africa-Kenya Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $679M to Kenya. The main products that South Africa exported to Kenya were Semi-Finished Iron ($119M), Coal Briquettes ($109M), and Corn ($49.9M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Kenya have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.54%, from $734M in 2018 to $679M in 2023.

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

Kenya-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Kenya exported $50.9M to South Africa. The main products that Kenya exported to South Africa were Gold ($25.4M), Carbonates ($2.42M), and Cut Flowers ($2.4M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Kenya to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 1.26%,  from $47.8M in 2018 to $50.9M in 2023.

In 2023, Kenya 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, Kenya ranked 86 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.47), and 109 in total exports ($8.59B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR1.14B and imported ZAR42.8M from Kenya, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR1.09B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR336M (41.9%) from ZAR801M to ZAR1.14B, while imports increased by ZAR15.6M (57.3%) from ZAR27.2M to ZAR42.8M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Kenya were Semi-Finished Iron (ZAR244M), Delivery Trucks (ZAR50.8M), Hot-Rolled Iron Bars (ZAR45.4M), Aircraft parts for spacecraft, UAVs, and... (ZAR33.5M), and Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft (ZAR29.6M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Kenya were Raw Tobacco (ZAR15.5M), Coffee (ZAR5.84M), Cellulose Fibers Paper (ZAR3.54M), Tea (ZAR2.65M), and Legumes (ZAR2.48M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Durban (ZAR346M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR343M), Richards Bay (ZAR146M), Port Elizabeth (ZAR107M), and Cape Town (ZAR61.1M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR22.3M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR13.2M), Cape Town (ZAR3.54M), Johannesburg (ZAR2.03M), and Komatipoort (ZAR707k).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Kenya was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Semi-Finished Iron (ZAR189M or 341%), Aircraft parts for spacecraft, UAVs, and... (ZAR33.3M or 21k%), and Delivery Trucks (ZAR28.1M or 124%). In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Kenya was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Margarine (ZAR1.8M or 413%), Plastic Lids (ZAR1.73M or 1.41M%), and Tea (ZAR1.69M or 175%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR336M(41.9%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR15.6M(57.3%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)DurbanZAR346M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Kenya and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $679M to Kenya. The main products exported from South Africa to Kenya were Semi-Finished Iron ($119M), Coal Briquettes ($109M), and Corn ($49.9M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Kenya have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.54%, from $734M in 2018 to $679M in 2023.

In 2018, Kenya exported $50.9M to South Africa. The main products exported from Kenya to South Africa were Gold ($25.4M), Carbonates ($2.42M), and Cut Flowers ($2.4M). During the last 5 years the exports of Kenya to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 1.26%, from $47.8M in 2023 to $50.9M in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Kenya
Top DestinationUganda$893M

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

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from Kenya than South Africa included Uganda ($893M), Pakistan ($520M), and Rwanda ($302M).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Kenya

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Kenya in the exports of Mineral Products ($158M), Metals ($152M), and Transportation ($87.1M).

During 2018, Kenya had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Precious Metals ($25.4M), Vegetable Products ($8.91M), and Chemical Products ($5.25M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Kenya+$15.3MCars
Top Product Potential Kenya South Africa+$1.96MTea

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

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

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