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2023
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Exports $283MRnk 51 / 211
2023
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Top Product $146MCitrus
2023
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Exports $523MRnk 48 / 137
2023
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Top Product $94.3MWheat
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.3Rnk 50 / 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$2.02TCURRENT US$
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2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-11.8%CURRENT US$
Rnk 183 / 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$13,817CURRENT US$
Rnk 74 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-13.3%CURRENT US$
Rnk 170 / 195

About

South Africa-Russia Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $283M to Russia. The main products that South Africa exported to Russia were Citrus ($146M), Apples and Pears ($37.2M), and Other Nuts ($18.8M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Russia have decreased at an annualized rate of 15.8%, from $670M in 2018 to $283M in 2023.

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

Russia-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Russia exported $523M to South Africa. The main products that Russia exported to South Africa were Wheat ($94.3M), Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers ($91.2M), and Coal Briquettes ($76.6M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Russia to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 0.53%,  from $509M in 2018 to $523M in 2023.

In 2020, Russia exported services to South Africa worth $18.9M, with Transportation ($5.81M), Royalties and license fees ($5.64M), and Other business services ($3.36M) 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, Russia ranked 50 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.3), and 18 in total exports ($394B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR106M and imported ZAR670M from Russia, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR564M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-7.16M (-6.33%) from ZAR113M to ZAR106M, while imports decreased by ZAR-290M (-30.2%) from ZAR960M to ZAR670M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Russia were Other Nuts (ZAR34.2M), Apples and Pears (ZAR33.2M), Pitted Fruits (ZAR19.5M), Refined Petroleum (ZAR16.6M), and Stone Processing Machines (ZAR12.5M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Russia were Sulphur (ZAR165M), Stone Processing Machines (ZAR23.1M), Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR17.7M), Non-fillet Frozen Fish (ZAR8.91M), and Synthetic Rubber (ZAR3.67M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Cape Town (ZAR60.1M), Johannesburg (ZAR17.9M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR17.2M), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR6.36M), and East London (ZAR3.52M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR299M), Richards Bay (ZAR203M), Cape Town (ZAR164M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR3.82M), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR756k).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Russia was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Grapes (ZAR-32.6M or -72.7%), Pulley Systems (ZAR-13.8M or -98.4%), and Pitted Fruits (ZAR-9.03M or -31.7%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Russia was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Non-fillet Frozen Fish (ZAR-110M or -92.5%), Ferroalloys (ZAR-29.5M or -93.7%), and Refined Petroleum (ZAR-23.4M or -99.8%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-7.16M(-6.33%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-290M(-30.2%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Cape TownZAR60.1M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Russia and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $283M to Russia. The main products exported from South Africa to Russia were Citrus ($146M), Apples and Pears ($37.2M), and Other Nuts ($18.8M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Russia have decreased at an annualized rate of 15.8%, from $670M in 2018 to $283M in 2023.

In 2018, Russia exported $523M to South Africa. The main products exported from Russia to South Africa were Wheat ($94.3M), Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers ($91.2M), and Coal Briquettes ($76.6M). During the last 5 years the exports of Russia to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 0.53%, from $509M in 2023 to $523M in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Russia
Top DestinationChina$129B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Russia included United Kingdom ($9.01B), United States ($13B), and Germany ($10.8B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Russia than South Africa included China ($129B), India ($66.1B), and Turkey ($31B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Russia

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Russia in the exports of Vegetable Products ($225M), Foodstuffs ($21.2M), and Machines ($12.1M).

During 2018, Russia had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Chemical Products ($186M), Mineral Products ($150M), and Vegetable Products ($108M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Russia+$7.82MWine
Top Product Potential Russia South Africa+$31.7MCoal Briquettes

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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Bilateral Service Trade

In 2020, Russia exported services to South Africa worth $18.9M, with Transportation ($5.81M), Royalties and license fees ($5.64M), and Other business services ($3.36M) being the largest in terms of value.

Service trade data is presented based on availability.

Services Exports from Russia (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2020)

Service Trade

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of South Africa and Russia. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over Russia. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of Russia indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa.

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

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