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Pricing

2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $3.3BRnk 13 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $133MDelivery Trucks
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.47BRnk 2 / 139
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $1.02BNickel Mattes
2022
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI -0.74Rnk 99 / 133
2022
Flag  
GDP$406BCURRENT US$
Rnk 37 / 186
2012-2022
Flag
GDP GROWTH-6.57%CURRENT US$
Rnk 171 / 186
2022
Flag
 GDP$20.7BCURRENT US$
Rnk 114 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH20.8%CURRENT US$
Rnk 121 / 186
2022
Flag
GDP PC $6,776CURRENT US$
Rnk 95 / 186
2012-2022
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-17.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 167 / 186
2022
Flag
GDP PC$1,267CURRENT US$
Rnk 162 / 186
2012-2022
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-1.8%CURRENT US$
Rnk 147 / 186

About

South Africa-Zimbabwe Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $3.3B to Zimbabwe. The main products that South Africa exported to Zimbabwe were Delivery Trucks ($133M), Electricity ($96.6M), and Refined Petroleum ($91.4M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Zimbabwe have increased at an annualized rate of 9.22%, from $2.12B in 2017 to $3.3B in 2022.

In 2022, South Africa did not export any services to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe-South Africa Trade: In 2022, Zimbabwe exported $1.47B to South Africa. The main products that Zimbabwe exported to South Africa were Nickel Mattes ($1.02B), Raw Tobacco ($85.7M), and Coke ($69.4M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Zimbabwe to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.045%,  from $1.47B in 2017 to $1.47B in 2022.

In 2022, Zimbabwe did not export any services to South Africa.

Comparison: In 2022,  South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.076), and 34 in total exports ($147B). That same year, Zimbabwe ranked 99 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.74), and 109 in total exports ($8.41B).

Latest Trends

August, 2024

About

Overview In August 2024, South Africa exported ZAR5.81B and imported ZAR545M from Zimbabwe, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR5.27B. Between August 2023 and August 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR791M (15.8%) from ZAR5.02B to ZAR5.81B, while imports increased by ZAR193M (54.8%) from ZAR352M to ZAR545M.

Trade In August 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 August 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 August 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Beit Bridge (ZAR4.35B), Ramatlabama (ZAR371M), Groblers Bridge (ZAR343M), Johannesburg (ZAR315M), and Kopfontein (ZAR109M), while imports destinations were mainly Beit Bridge (ZAR337M), Groblers Bridge (ZAR105M), Ramatlabama (ZAR51.7M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR49.5M), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR1.22M).

Growth In August 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 August 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 (August 2023 - August 2024)ZAR791M(15.8%)
IMPORT GROWTH (August 2023 - August 2024)ZAR193M(54.8%)
MAIN EXPORTER (August 2024)Beit BridgeZAR4.35B

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

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $3.3B to Zimbabwe. The main products exported from South Africa to Zimbabwe were Delivery Trucks ($133M), Electricity ($96.6M), and Refined Petroleum ($91.4M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Zimbabwe have increased at an annualized rate of 9.22%, from $2.12B in 2017 to $3.3B in 2022.

In 2017, Zimbabwe exported $1.47B to South Africa. The main products exported from Zimbabwe to South Africa were Nickel Mattes ($1.02B), Raw Tobacco ($85.7M), and Coke ($69.4M). During the last 5 years the exports of Zimbabwe to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.045%, from $1.47B in 2022 to $1.47B in 2017.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to Zimbabwe (Flag) (2022)

Exports from Zimbabwe (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B
Zimbabwe
Top DestinationUnited Arab Emirates$4.78B

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 2022, countries that imported more from South Africa than Zimbabwe included China ($23.4B), United States ($10.9B), and Germany ($9.96B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from Zimbabwe than South Africa included United Arab Emirates ($4.78B), Sudan ($20.3M), and North Korea ($2.8M).

Difference in imports from Zimbabwe (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2022)

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 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with Zimbabwe in the exports of Machines ($637M), Chemical Products ($522M), and Metals ($372M).

During 2017, Zimbabwe had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Metals ($1.05B), Foodstuffs ($111M), and Mineral Products ($105M).

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.

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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 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) (2022)

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