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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $594MRnk 36 / 211
2023
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Top Product $98.6MRaw Aluminium
2023
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Exports $2BRnk 29 / 216
2023
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Top Product $464MRice
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.96Rnk 29 / 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$515BCURRENT US$
Rnk 26 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH22.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 133 / 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$7,182CURRENT US$
Rnk 102 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH19.3%CURRENT US$
Rnk 103 / 195

About

South Africa-Thailand Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $594M to Thailand. The main products that South Africa exported to Thailand were Raw Aluminium ($98.6M), Acyclic Hydrocarbons ($66.8M), and Centrifuges ($66.7M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Thailand have decreased at an annualized rate of 8.91%, from $948M in 2018 to $594M in 2023.

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

Thailand-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Thailand exported $2B to South Africa. The main products that Thailand exported to South Africa were Rice ($464M), Cars ($177M), and Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($176M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Thailand to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.45%,  from $1.69B in 2018 to $2B in 2023.

In 2023, Thailand 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, Thailand ranked 29 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.96), and 25 in total exports ($332B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR366M and imported ZAR5.73B from Thailand, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR5.36B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-187M (-33.8%) from ZAR553M to ZAR366M, while imports decreased by ZAR-39.5M (-0.68%) from ZAR5.77B to ZAR5.73B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Thailand were Soybeans (ZAR291M), Raw Aluminium (ZAR189M), Centrifuges (ZAR59.4M), Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR31.5M), and Sulfate Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR16.9M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Thailand were Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR2.19B), Rice (ZAR597M), Delivery Trucks (ZAR324M), Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701... (ZAR209M), and Processed Fish (ZAR136M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Port Elizabeth (ZAR129M), Durban (ZAR96.7M), Richards Bay (ZAR89M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR18.2M), and Johannesburg (ZAR14.5M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR4.18B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR719M), Cape Town (ZAR265M), Pretoria (ZAR251M), and O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR237M).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Thailand was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Other Iron Products (ZAR-160M or -99.7%), Refined Copper (ZAR-15M or -51.7%), and Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR-14.6M or -31.7%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Thailand was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR-886M or -28.8%), Household Washing Machines (ZAR-16.4M or -46.3%), and Other Processed Fruits and Nuts (ZAR-12.1M or -92.8%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-187M(-33.8%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-39.5M(-0.68%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Port ElizabethZAR129M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Thailand and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $594M to Thailand. The main products exported from South Africa to Thailand were Raw Aluminium ($98.6M), Acyclic Hydrocarbons ($66.8M), and Centrifuges ($66.7M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Thailand have decreased at an annualized rate of 8.91%, from $948M in 2018 to $594M in 2023.

In 2018, Thailand exported $2B to South Africa. The main products exported from Thailand to South Africa were Rice ($464M), Cars ($177M), and Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($176M). During the last 5 years the exports of Thailand to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.45%, from $1.69B in 2023 to $2B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Thailand
Top DestinationUnited States$58.5B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Thailand included Mozambique ($6.13B), Botswana ($4.28B), and United Kingdom ($9.01B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Thailand than South Africa included United States ($58.5B), Japan ($24.9B), and China ($44.1B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Thailand

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Thailand in the exports of Metals ($205M), Chemical Products ($94.6M), and Machines ($76.1M).

During 2018, Thailand had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Transportation ($522M), Vegetable Products ($479M), and Machines ($365M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Thailand+$107MGold
Top Product Potential Thailand South Africa+$55.7MCars

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

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

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