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2023
Exports $6.93BWorld Rnk 4 / 127
Flag Rnk 5 / 1214
2023
Destination $42.5M China
2022 - 2023
FASTEST GROWING MARKET $42.5MMozambique
2023
PRODUCT COMPLEXITY IN Iron Ore-1.87Rnk 987 / 1025
2023
Imports $130kWorld Rnk 78 / 125
Flag Rnk 1136 / 1211
2023
Origin $30.3k Namibia
2022 - 2023
FASTEST GROWING ORIGIN $30.3kNamibia
2023
ECONOMIC COMPLEXITY of South Africa0.07Rnk 59 / 132

About

Exports In 2023, South Africa exported $6.93B in Iron Ore, making it the 4th largest exporter of Iron Ore in the world. At the same year, Iron Ore was the 5th most exported product in South Africa. The main destination of Iron Ore exports from South Africa are: China ($3.77B), Germany ($632M), Mozambique ($529M), Japan ($517M), and South Korea ($514M).

The fastest growing export markets for Iron Ore of South Africa between 2022 and 2023 were Mozambique ($42.5M), Singapore ($37.9M), and Romania ($24.1M).

Imports In 2023, South Africa imported $130k in Iron Ore, becoming the 78th largest importer of Iron Ore in the world. At the same year, Iron Ore was the 1136th most imported product in South Africa. South Africa imports Iron Ore primarily from: Namibia ($80.9k), Australia ($29.3k), Netherlands ($5.46k), Brazil ($3.92k), and United States ($1.98k).

The fastest growing import markets in Iron Ore for South Africa between 2022 and 2023 were Namibia ($30.3k), Australia ($18.9k), and Brazil ($2.21k).

Latest Trends

November 2024

About

Overview In November 2024 South Africa's Iron Ore exports accounted up to ZAR8.78B and imports accounted up to ZAR523k, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR8.78B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa's   Iron Ore have decreased by ZAR-3.4B (-27.9%) from ZAR12.2B to ZAR8.78B, while imports increased by ZAR173k (49.6%) from ZAR349k to ZAR523k.

Destinations In November 2024, Iron Ore were exported mostly to China (ZAR6.34B), South Korea (ZAR1.63B), Mozambique (ZAR418M), Germany (ZAR258M), and Indonesia (ZAR100M), and were imported mostly from Namibia (ZAR513k), Germany (ZAR5.44k), Iraq (ZAR1.37k), Malaysia (ZAR1.21k), and Bahrain (ZAR864).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in Iron Ore's year-by-year exports was explained primarily by a decrease in exports to China (ZAR-692M or -12.5%), Turkey (ZAR-626M or -100%), and Slovenia (ZAR-201M or -68.2%). In November 2024, the increase in Iron Ore's year-by-year imports was explained primarily by an increase in imports from Brazil (ZAR9.27k or 34.8%).

Subnational Monthly Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Color
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-3.4B(-27.9%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR173k(49.6%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Saldanha BayZAR9.79B
MAIN DESTINATION (November 2024)ChinaZAR6.34B

This section shows Iron Ore's 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 destination or origin country to explore the exports or imports behavior of Iron Ore over time.

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Historical Data

Trade Balance

Color
EXPORTS (2023)$6.93B
IMPORTS (2023)$130k
NET TRADE (2023)$6.93B

In 2023, South Africa exported $6.93B in Iron Ore. The main destinations of South Africa exports on Iron Ore were China ($3.77B), Germany ($632M), Mozambique ($529M), Japan ($517M), and South Korea ($514M).

In 2023, South Africa imported $130k in Iron Ore, mainly from Namibia ($80.9k), Australia ($29.3k), Netherlands ($5.46k), Brazil ($3.92k), and United States ($1.98k).

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Export Destinations (2023)

Import Origins (2023)

Market Growth

Flow
THE FASTEST GROWING Iron Ore EXPORT MARKETS FOR South Africa WERE (2022 - 2023):
Mozambique$42.5M (8.74%)
Singapore$37.9M (1.02k%)
Romania$24.1M (30%)
THE FASTEST DECLINING MARKETS FOR THE EXPORT OF Iron Ore BY South Africa WERE (2022 - 2023):
China-$1.13B (-23%)
South Korea-$524M (-50.5%)
Netherlands-$519M (-56%)
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Change in Exports by Market (2022 - 2023)

Market Concentration

View
Flow
Type
In 2023, South Africa's main exporting competitors in Iron Ore were:
Australia $85.4B
Brazil $34B
Canada $7.23B
In 2023, South Africa's main importing competitors in Iron Ore were:
China $112B
Japan $9.3B
South Korea $7.07B

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Trade Value of Iron Ore by Exporters

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Flow
View
TOP EXPORT POTENTIALChina+ $587M
TOP IMPORT POTENTIALAustralia+ $59k

Iron Ore’s highest export potential is China. With an export gap of $587M.   Iron Ore’s highest import potential is Australia with an import gap of $59k.

See methodology.

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