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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $502MRnk 39 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $30.3MCars
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $48.2MRnk 4 / 126
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $14.7MTea
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 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$12.7BCURRENT US$
Rnk 143 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH58.3%CURRENT US$
Rnk 58 / 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$602CURRENT US$
Rnk 190 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH21.2%CURRENT US$
Rnk 101 / 195

About

South Africa-Malawi Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $502M to Malawi. The main products that South Africa exported to Malawi were Cars ($30.3M), Documents of title (bonds etc) and unused stamps ($28.3M), and Propylene Polymers ($26.4M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Malawi have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.58%, from $517M in 2018 to $502M in 2023.

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

Malawi-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Malawi exported $48.2M to South Africa. The main products that Malawi exported to South Africa were Tea ($14.7M), Ground Nuts ($5.49M), and Other Nuts ($4.64M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Malawi to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.36%,  from $62.7M in 2018 to $48.2M in 2023.

In 2023, Malawi 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, Malawi ranked 163 in total exports ($922M), and does not have data regarding Economic Complexity Index.

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR730M and imported ZAR81.8M from Malawi, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR648M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR33.5M (4.82%) from ZAR696M to ZAR730M, while imports increased by ZAR8.92M (12.2%) from ZAR72.9M to ZAR81.8M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Malawi were Delivery Trucks (ZAR26.2M), Soap (ZAR23.2M), Propylene Polymers (ZAR22.9M), Beauty Products (ZAR19.2M), and Other Edible Preparations (ZAR18.1M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Malawi were Other Nuts (ZAR13.2M), Tea (ZAR6.39M), Scrap Copper (ZAR5.69M), Ground Nuts (ZAR4.97M), and Bran (ZAR4.03M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Beit Bridge (ZAR645M), Groblers Bridge (ZAR42.4M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR12.5M), Kopfontein (ZAR8.68M), and Pretoria (ZAR6.94M), while imports destinations were mainly Beit Bridge (ZAR81.5M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR310k), and Komatipoort (ZAR7.31k).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Malawi was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Delivery Trucks (ZAR19.4M or 283%), Soap (ZAR12.3M or 113%), and Beauty Products (ZAR8.71M or 82.9%). In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Malawi was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Other Nuts (ZAR10.7M or 423%), Ground Nuts (ZAR3.93M or 380%), and Industrial Food Preperation Machinery (ZAR1.06M or 1.06M%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR33.5M(4.82%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR8.92M(12.2%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Beit BridgeZAR645M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Malawi and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $502M to Malawi. The main products exported from South Africa to Malawi were Cars ($30.3M), Documents of title (bonds etc) and unused stamps ($28.3M), and Propylene Polymers ($26.4M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Malawi have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.58%, from $517M in 2018 to $502M in 2023.

In 2018, Malawi exported $48.2M to South Africa. The main products exported from Malawi to South Africa were Tea ($14.7M), Ground Nuts ($5.49M), and Other Nuts ($4.64M). During the last 5 years the exports of Malawi to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.36%, from $62.7M in 2023 to $48.2M in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Malawi
Top DestinationGermany$99.1M

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

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

In 2023, no countries were registered that imported more from Malawi than from South Africa.

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Malawi

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Malawi in the exports of Chemical Products ($77.3M), Plastics and Rubbers ($72.3M), and Machines ($68M).

During 2018, Malawi had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Vegetable Products ($29.4M), Transportation ($3.96M), and Foodstuffs ($3.8M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Malawi+$2.88MCars
Top Product Potential Malawi South Africa+$918kDried Legumes

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

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

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