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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $13BRnk 2 / 211
2023
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Top Product $3.42BPlatinum
2023
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Exports $6.85BRnk 42 / 220
2023
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Top Product $424MCrude Petroleum
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.5Rnk 10 / 132
2023
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GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
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2023
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 GDP$27.7TCURRENT US$
Rnk 1 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH64.2%CURRENT US$
Rnk 44 / 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$
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2023
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GDP PC$82,769CURRENT US$
Rnk 9 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH55%CURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195

About

South Africa-United States Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $13B to United States. The main products that South Africa exported to United States were Platinum ($3.42B), Cars ($1.6B), and Other Precious Metal Products ($1.37B). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to United States have increased at an annualized rate of 9.1%, from $8.42B in 2018 to $13B in 2023.

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

United States-South Africa Trade: In 2023, United States exported $6.85B to South Africa. The main products that United States exported to South Africa were Crude Petroleum ($424M), Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($369M), and Petroleum Gas ($254M). Over the past 5 years the exports of United States to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 5.79%,  from $5.17B in 2018 to $6.85B in 2023.

In 2017, United States exported services to South Africa worth $2.71B, with Travel ($629M), Royalties and license fees ($590M), and Financial services ($479M) 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, United States ranked 10 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.5), and 2 in total exports ($1.86T).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR13.2B and imported ZAR11.3B from United States, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR1.89B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR305M (2.37%) from ZAR12.9B to ZAR13.2B, while imports decreased by ZAR-3.96B (-25.9%) from ZAR15.3B to ZAR11.3B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to United States were Platinum (ZAR4.78B), Raw Aluminium (ZAR970M), Ferroalloys (ZAR620M), Granulated Slag (ZAR586M), and Aluminium Plating (ZAR438M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from United States were Documents of title (bonds etc) and... (ZAR2.22B), Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft (ZAR793M), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR706M), Computers (ZAR409M), and Precious Metal Compounds (ZAR287M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR5.76B), Durban (ZAR1.82B), East London (ZAR1.52B), Richards Bay (ZAR1.49B), and Cape Town (ZAR801M), while imports destinations were mainly O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR4.11B), Durban (ZAR3.46B), Cape Town (ZAR1.78B), Richards Bay (ZAR702M), and Pretoria (ZAR350M).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to United States was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Raw Aluminium (ZAR585M or 152%), Ferroalloys (ZAR243M or 64.3%), and Recreational Boats (ZAR230M or 1.02k%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from United States was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Precious Metal Compounds (ZAR-123M or -30%), Machinery Having Individual Functions (ZAR-93.2M or -73.4%), and Cars (ZAR-75.7M or -31.9%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR305M(2.37%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-3.96B(-25.9%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR5.76B

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 United States and South Africa trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore United States and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $13B to United States. The main products exported from South Africa to United States were Platinum ($3.42B), Cars ($1.6B), and Other Precious Metal Products ($1.37B). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to United States have increased at an annualized rate of 9.1%, from $8.42B in 2018 to $13B in 2023.

In 2018, United States exported $6.85B to South Africa. The main products exported from United States to South Africa were Crude Petroleum ($424M), Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($369M), and Petroleum Gas ($254M). During the last 5 years the exports of United States to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 5.79%, from $5.17B in 2023 to $6.85B in 2018.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to United States (Flag) (2023)

Exports from United States (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
United States
Top DestinationCanada$269B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than United States included Mozambique ($6.13B), Botswana ($4.28B), and Zimbabwe ($3.47B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from United States than South Africa included Canada ($269B), Mexico ($243B), and China ($154B).

Difference in imports from United States (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - United States

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with United States in the exports of Precious Metals ($6.82B), Transportation ($1.89B), and Metals ($1.4B).

During 2018, United States had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($2.05B), Transportation ($1.33B), and Mineral Products ($1.06B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa United States+$856MCars
Top Product Potential United States South Africa+$281MRefined Petroleum

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

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and United States (Flag) (2023)

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