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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $2.72BRnk 15 / 211
2023
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Top Product $140MDelivery Trucks
2023
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Exports $433MRnk 7 / 136
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $102MRefined Copper
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI -0.65Rnk 94 / 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$27.6BCURRENT US$
Rnk 111 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-1.64%CURRENT US$
Rnk 172 / 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$1,331CURRENT US$
Rnk 171 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-26.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 184 / 195

About

South Africa-Zambia Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $2.72B to Zambia. The main products that South Africa exported to Zambia were Delivery Trucks ($140M), Refined Petroleum ($140M), and Nitrogenous Fertilizers ($136M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Zambia have increased at an annualized rate of 0.021%, from $2.72B in 2018 to $2.72B in 2023.

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

Zambia-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Zambia exported $433M to South Africa. The main products that Zambia exported to South Africa were Refined Copper ($102M), Raw Tobacco ($60.3M), and Cobalt Oxides and Hydroxides ($47.1M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Zambia to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 5.45%,  from $332M in 2018 to $433M in 2023.

In 2023, Zambia 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, Zambia ranked 94 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.65), and 85 in total exports ($15.9B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR4.55B and imported ZAR528M from Zambia, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR4.02B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR572M (14.4%) from ZAR3.97B to ZAR4.55B, while imports increased by ZAR75.6M (16.7%) from ZAR453M to ZAR528M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Zambia were Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR346M), Refined Petroleum (ZAR144M), Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers (ZAR122M), Delivery Trucks (ZAR106M), and Sulphur (ZAR61.3M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Zambia were Corn (ZAR134M), Refined Copper (ZAR112M), Soybean Meal (ZAR21.5M), Bran (ZAR17M), and Copper Wire (ZAR15.4M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Groblers Bridge (ZAR2.02B), Beit Bridge (ZAR847M), Kopfontein (ZAR705M), Johannesburg (ZAR594M), and Skilpadsnek (ZAR165M), while imports destinations were mainly Groblers Bridge (ZAR475M), Beit Bridge (ZAR34.9M), Kopfontein (ZAR12.6M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR5.36M), and Skilpadsnek (ZAR111k).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Zambia was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR204M or 143%), Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers (ZAR114M or 1.45k%), and Refined Petroleum (ZAR60.7M or 72.6%). In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Zambia was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Corn (ZAR133M or 35.9k%), Soybean Meal (ZAR20.4M or 1.78k%), and Excavation Machinery (ZAR7.97M or 12.2k%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR572M(14.4%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR75.6M(16.7%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Groblers BridgeZAR2.02B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Zambia and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $2.72B to Zambia. The main products exported from South Africa to Zambia were Delivery Trucks ($140M), Refined Petroleum ($140M), and Nitrogenous Fertilizers ($136M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Zambia have increased at an annualized rate of 0.021%, from $2.72B in 2018 to $2.72B in 2023.

In 2018, Zambia exported $433M to South Africa. The main products exported from Zambia to South Africa were Refined Copper ($102M), Raw Tobacco ($60.3M), and Cobalt Oxides and Hydroxides ($47.1M). During the last 5 years the exports of Zambia to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 5.45%, from $332M in 2023 to $433M in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Zambia
Top DestinationSwitzerland$4.26B

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

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from Zambia than South Africa included Egypt ($165M), Switzerland ($4.26B), and Democratic Republic of the Congo ($1.6B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Zambia

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Zambia in the exports of Chemical Products ($518M), Machines ($448M), and Transportation ($406M).

During 2018, Zambia had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Metals ($147M), Foodstuffs ($108M), and Chemical Products ($49.6M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Zambia+$10MCars
Top Product Potential Zambia South Africa+$28.2MGold

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

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

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