NEW: World Trade TARIFFS Simulator!
NEW: 2023 Data and Complexity Rankings
Sign In
Pricing

2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $3.47BRnk 11 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $151MRefined Petroleum
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.39BRnk 3 / 143
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $989MNickel Mattes
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI -0.98Rnk 110 / 132
2023
Flag  
GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
Flag
 GDP$35.2BCURRENT US$
Rnk 103 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH84.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 27 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC $6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC$2,156CURRENT US$
Rnk 154 / 196
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH58.3%CURRENT US$
Rnk 33 / 195

About

South Africa-Zimbabwe Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $3.47B to Zimbabwe. The main products that South Africa exported to Zimbabwe were Refined Petroleum ($151M), Corn ($142M), and Delivery Trucks ($98.3M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Zimbabwe have increased at an annualized rate of 6.55%, from $2.53B in 2018 to $3.47B in 2023.

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

Zimbabwe-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Zimbabwe exported $1.39B to South Africa. The main products that Zimbabwe exported to South Africa were Nickel Mattes ($989M), Coke ($112M), and Platinum ($94.1M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Zimbabwe to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 9.78%,  from $872M in 2018 to $1.39B in 2023.

In 2023, Zimbabwe 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, Zimbabwe ranked 110 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.98), and 106 in total exports ($9.05B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR6.02B and imported ZAR392M from Zimbabwe, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR5.63B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR531M (9.66%) from ZAR5.49B to ZAR6.02B, while imports increased by ZAR133M (51.5%) from ZAR259M to ZAR392M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Zimbabwe were Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR217M), Delivery Trucks (ZAR211M), Refined Petroleum (ZAR137M), Electricity (ZAR122M), and Petroleum Gas (ZAR120M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Zimbabwe were Coke (ZAR163M), Raw Tobacco (ZAR13.6M), Other Vegetable Residues (ZAR10.5M), Coal Briquettes (ZAR9.74M), and Unglazed Ceramics (ZAR6.7M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Beit Bridge (ZAR4.8B), Ramatlabama (ZAR362M), Groblers Bridge (ZAR271M), Johannesburg (ZAR198M), and Kopfontein (ZAR141M), while imports destinations were mainly Beit Bridge (ZAR281M), Groblers Bridge (ZAR72.7M), Ramatlabama (ZAR35.2M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR2.61M), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR793k).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Zimbabwe was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Stone Processing Machines (ZAR80.5M or 330%), Delivery Trucks (ZAR70.7M or 50.3%), and Wheat (ZAR64.8M or 135%). In November 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Zimbabwe was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Coke (ZAR95.8M or 142%), Coal Briquettes (ZAR3.48M or 55.5%), and Iron Housewares (ZAR2.71M or 99.5%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR531M(9.66%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR133M(51.5%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Beit BridgeZAR4.8B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Zimbabwe and South Africa Data

Go to Bulk Download

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $3.47B to Zimbabwe. The main products exported from South Africa to Zimbabwe were Refined Petroleum ($151M), Corn ($142M), and Delivery Trucks ($98.3M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Zimbabwe have increased at an annualized rate of 6.55%, from $2.53B in 2018 to $3.47B in 2023.

In 2018, Zimbabwe exported $1.39B to South Africa. The main products exported from Zimbabwe to South Africa were Nickel Mattes ($989M), Coke ($112M), and Platinum ($94.1M). During the last 5 years the exports of Zimbabwe to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 9.78%, from $872M in 2023 to $1.39B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Zimbabwe
Top DestinationUnited Arab Emirates$4.1B

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

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from Zimbabwe than South Africa included North Korea ($129k) and Tajikistan ($42k).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Zimbabwe

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Zimbabwe in the exports of Machines ($721M), Chemical Products ($528M), and Mineral Products ($374M).

During 2018, Zimbabwe had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Metals ($1.01B), Mineral Products ($130M), and Precious Metals ($94.7M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Zimbabwe+$11MCars
Top Product Potential Zimbabwe South Africa+$5.3MFerroalloys

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.

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

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

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

Keep Exploring

Have questions, comments, or concerns?
Send us an e-mail: support@oec.world
Follow @OECtoday on
Created, Designed, and Developed by:
In collaboration with
About the OECPrivacy PolicyTerms