South Africa2020 Economic Complexity : 0.086, Rank 54 of 127
2020 Product Exports | Imports: $102B | $71B, 36 of 226 | 42 of 226
2020 Per Capita Product Exports | Imports: $1.71k | $1.2k, 91 of 219 | 133 of 219
2018 Service Exports | Imports : $14.5B | $15.6B, 46 of 125 | 45 of 125
Overview In 2020 South Africa was the number 38 economy in the world in terms of GDP (current US$), the number 36 in total exports, the number 42 in total imports, the number 97 economy in terms of GDP per capita (current US$) and the number 54 most complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI).
Exports The top exports of South Africa are Gold ($13B), Platinum ($11.9B), Coal Briquettes ($6.37B), Cars ($5.19B), and Diamonds ($4.75B), exporting mostly to China ($11.9B), United States ($10.2B), India ($7.88B), United Kingdom ($7.51B), and Germany ($6.93B).
In 2020, South Africa was the world's biggest exporter of Platinum ($11.9B), Manganese Ore ($2.59B), Chromium Ore ($1.56B), Other Precious Metal Products ($1.32B), and Titanium Ore ($569M)
Imports The top imports of South Africa are Crude Petroleum ($5.09B), Refined Petroleum ($3.51B), Vehicle Parts ($2.45B), Cars ($2.14B), and Broadcasting Equipment ($1.96B), importing mostly from China ($14.7B), Germany ($7.05B), United States ($4.2B), India ($3.58B), and Saudi Arabia ($2.75B).
In 2020, South Africa was the world's biggest importer of Metallic Fabric ($3.74M)
Location South Africa borders Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe by land.
November, 2021
Overview In November 2021 South Africa exported ZAR156B and imported ZAR127B, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR29.6B. Between November 2020 and November 2021 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR24.7B (18.7%) from ZAR132B to ZAR156B, while imports increased by ZAR25B (24.5%) from ZAR102B to ZAR127B.
Trade In November 2021, the top exports of South Africa were Platinum (ZAR28.9B), Gold (ZAR12.3B), Coal Briquettes (ZAR11.1B), Iron Ore (ZAR9.89B), and Ferroalloys (ZAR7.4B). In November 2021 the top imports of South Africa were Refined Petroleum (ZAR12.3B), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR6.75B), Crude Petroleum (ZAR6.02B), Telephones (ZAR5.19B), and Cars (ZAR3.73B).
Origins In November 2021 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR40.1B), Durban (ZAR20.8B), Richards Bay (ZAR16.3B), Sa Reserwebank (ZAR12.3B), and Saldanha Bay (ZAR10.2B), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR65.4B), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR23.8B), Cape Town (ZAR12.6B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR6.1B), and Johannesburg (ZAR4.49B).
Destinations In November 2021, South Africa exported mostly to United States (ZAR17.2B), China (ZAR16.8B), Special Categories (ZAR12.4B), Germany (ZAR10.9B), and Japan (ZAR9.71B), and imported mostly from China (ZAR28.1B), United States (ZAR8.86B), Germany (ZAR8.16B), India (ZAR6.92B), and Saudi Arabia (ZAR5.21B).
Growth In November 2021, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports was explained primarily by an increase in exports to Special Categories (ZAR3.37B or 78.5%), India (ZAR2.64B or 80.7%), and China (ZAR1.94B or 19.6%), and product exports increase in Platinum (ZAR5.78B or 66.3%), Gold (ZAR3.01B or 77.4%), and Iron Ore (ZAR2.17B or 32.2%). In November 2021, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports was explained primarily by an increase in imports from Nigeria (ZAR4.81B or 271%), Germany (ZAR1.41B or 15.7%), and India (ZAR1.07B or 25.4%), and product imports increase in Crude Petroleum (ZAR3.33B or 49%), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR1.22B or 15.2%), and Postage Stamps (ZAR908M or 103%).
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2020 - November 2021): ZAR24.7B, (18.7%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2020 - November 2021): ZAR25B, (24.5%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2021): O.R. Tambo Int Airport, ZAR40.1B
MAIN DESTINATION (November 2021): United States, ZAR17.2B
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, destination or origin country to explore the exports or imports behavior of South Africa over time.
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In 2020, South Africa exported a total of $102B, making it the number 36 exporter in the world. During the last five reported years the exports of South Africa have changed by -$10.4B from $112B in 2015 to $102B in 2020.
The most recent exports are led by Gold ($13B), Platinum ($11.9B), Coal Briquettes ($6.37B), Cars ($5.19B), and Diamonds ($4.75B). The most common destination for the exports of South Africa are China ($11.9B), United States ($10.2B), India ($7.88B), United Kingdom ($7.51B), and Germany ($6.93B).
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Top Import (2020): Crude Petroleum, $5.09B
Top Origin (2020): China, $14.7B
In 2020 South Africa imported $71B, making it the number 42 trade destination in the world. During the last five reported years the imports of South Africa changed by -$19.6B from $90.6B in 2015 to $71B in 2020.
The most recent imports of South Africa are led by Crude Petroleum ($5.09B), Refined Petroleum ($3.51B), Vehicle Parts ($2.45B), Cars ($2.14B), and Broadcasting Equipment ($1.96B). The most common import partners for South Africa are China ($14.7B), Germany ($7.05B), United States ($4.2B), India ($3.58B), and Saudi Arabia ($2.75B).
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Fastest Growing Export Markets (2019 - 2020)
Fastest Growing Import Markets (2019 - 2020)
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South Africa Exports Services (2018): $14.5B
South Africa Imports Services (2018): $15.6B
In 2018, South Africa exported $14.5B worth of services. The top services exported by South Africa in 2018 were Travel ($8.84B), Transportation ($2.18B), Other business services ($2.1B), Computer and information services ($622M), and Government services, n.i.e. ($367M).
The top services imported by South Africa in 2018 were Transportation ($6.73B), Travel ($3.35B), Other business services ($2.08B), Royalties and license fees ($1.79B), and Computer and information services ($1.24B).
The top product import tariffs by their MFN Ad Valorem value for South Africa are Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured (199k%)and Undenatured ethyl alcohol > 80% by volume (108k%).
Click any of the products in the bar chart to see the specific Ad Valorem Duty Rates by partner country.
*The tariffs applied to imports for South Africa are:
South Africa has a high level of specialization in Chromium Ore (125), Manganese Ore (69.1), Niobium, Tantalum, Vanadium and Zirconium Ore (50.2), Granulated Slag (46), and Titanium Ore (39.2). Specialization is measured using RCA, an index that takes the ratio between South Africa observed and expected exports in each product.
The highest complexity exports of South Africa according to the product complexity index (PCI) are Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides (1.54), Tungsten (wolfram) and articles, waste or scrap (1.46), Nickel plates, sheets, strip and foil (1.42), Ketones and quinones, their derivatives (1.29), and Unsaturated acyclic, cyclic monocarboxylc acid, derivs (1.17). PCI measures the knowledge intensity of a product by considering the knowledge intensity of its exporters.
The top export opportunities for South Africa according to the relatedness index, are Raw Cotton (0.25), Crude Petroleum (0.25), Petroleum Gas (0.25), Dried Legumes (0.24), and Pharmaceutical Animal Products (0.23). Relatedness measures the distance between a country's current exports and each product. The barchart show only products that South Africa is not specialized in.
The product space is a network connecting products that are likely to be co-exported. The product space can be used to predict future exports, since countries are more likely to start exporting products that are related to current exports. Relatedness measures the distance between a product, and all of the products a country currently specializes in.
The Complexity-Relatedness diagram compares the risk vs strategic value of a country's potential export oppotunities. Relatedness is predictive of the probability that a country increases its exports in a product. Complexity, is associated with higher levels of income, economic growth, less income inequality, and lower greenhouse emissions.
During the last 20 years South Africa's economy has become relatively less complex, moving from the 29th to the 54th position in the ECI rank.
These economic complexity rankings use 6 digit exports classified according to the HS96 classification. We consider only countries with population of at least 1 million and exports of at least $1 billion, and products with world trade over $500 million. To explore different rankings and vary these parameters visit the custom rankings section.
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