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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $427MRnk 42 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $59.1MPropylene Polymers
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $2.37BRnk 9 / 159
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $2.3BCrude Petroleum
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI -1.75Rnk 129 / 132
2023
Flag  
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$364BCURRENT US$
Rnk 41 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-30%CURRENT US$
Rnk 191 / 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$1,597CURRENT US$
Rnk 164 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-44.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 192 / 195

About

South Africa-Nigeria Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $427M to Nigeria. The main products that South Africa exported to Nigeria were Propylene Polymers ($59.1M), Apples and Pears ($37.9M), and Other Nuts ($18.4M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Nigeria have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.24%, from $478M in 2018 to $427M in 2023.

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

Nigeria-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Nigeria exported $2.37B to South Africa. The main products that Nigeria exported to South Africa were Crude Petroleum ($2.3B), Petroleum Gas ($41.9M), and Nitrogenous Fertilizers ($17M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Nigeria to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 9.19%,  from $3.84B in 2018 to $2.37B in 2023.

In 2023, Nigeria 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, Nigeria ranked 129 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -1.75), and 52 in total exports ($61B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR489M and imported ZAR3.1B from Nigeria, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR2.61B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR120M (32.7%) from ZAR368M to ZAR489M, while imports decreased by ZAR-497M (-13.8%) from ZAR3.6B to ZAR3.1B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Nigeria were Propylene Polymers (ZAR127M), Stone Processing Machines (ZAR70.4M), Electric Batteries (ZAR56.7M), Apples and Pears (ZAR50.5M), and Metal Stoppers (ZAR26.9M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Nigeria were Crude Petroleum (ZAR4.71B), Petroleum Gas (ZAR328M), Rubber (ZAR6.89M), Scrap Copper (ZAR6.27M), and Glass Bottles (ZAR4.95M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Durban (ZAR259M), Cape Town (ZAR126M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR40.5M), Johannesburg (ZAR32.2M), and Germiston/Alberton (ZAR23.9M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR3.08B), Cape Town (ZAR19.9M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR2.25M), Johannesburg (ZAR19.9k), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR9.61k).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Nigeria was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Electric Batteries (ZAR56.1M or 8.73k%), Scented Mixtures (ZAR13.8M or 196%), and Synthetic Coloring Matter (ZAR11.7M or 19.3k%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Nigeria was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Scrap Copper (ZAR-7.59M or -54.8%), Coconuts, Brazil Nuts, and Cashews (ZAR-5.95M or -100%), and Rubber (ZAR-5.59M or -44.8%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR120M(32.7%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-497M(-13.8%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)DurbanZAR259M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Nigeria and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $427M to Nigeria. The main products exported from South Africa to Nigeria were Propylene Polymers ($59.1M), Apples and Pears ($37.9M), and Other Nuts ($18.4M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Nigeria have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.24%, from $478M in 2018 to $427M in 2023.

In 2018, Nigeria exported $2.37B to South Africa. The main products exported from Nigeria to South Africa were Crude Petroleum ($2.3B), Petroleum Gas ($41.9M), and Nitrogenous Fertilizers ($17M). During the last 5 years the exports of Nigeria to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 9.19%, from $3.84B in 2023 to $2.37B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Nigeria
Top DestinationUnited States$6.29B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Nigeria included China ($29.5B), Germany ($10.8B), and India ($10.8B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Nigeria than South Africa included France ($4.76B), Spain ($5.76B), and Cote d'Ivoire ($2.4B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Nigeria

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Nigeria in the exports of Vegetable Products ($80.8M), Plastics and Rubbers ($73.8M), and Machines ($68.1M).

During 2018, Nigeria had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Mineral Products ($2.34B), Chemical Products ($19.1M), and Plastics and Rubbers ($7.05M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Nigeria+$17.6MCars
Top Product Potential Nigeria South Africa+$142MPetroleum Gas

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

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

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