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2022
Economic Complexity
Trade 0.076Rank 59 of 133
2021
Economic Complexity
Technology 0.93Rank 24 of 96
2022
Economic Complexity
Research 1.11Rank 23 of 135
2022
Product
Exports | Imports $147B | $113B34 of 226 |  38 of 226
2022
Per Capita Product
Exports | Imports $2.45k | $1.88k86 of 220 |  136 of 220

About

Overview In 2022, South Africa was the number 37 economy in the world in terms of GDP (current US$), the number 34 in total exports, the number 38 in total imports, the number 95 economy in terms of GDP per capita (current US$) and the number 59 most complex economy according to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI) .

Exports The top exports of South Africa are Gold ($22.7B), Platinum ($19.1B), Coal Briquettes ($12.7B), Cars ($6.89B), and Diamonds ($6.22B), exporting mostly to China ($23.4B), United States ($10.9B), Germany ($9.96B), India ($9.14B), and Japan ($8.85B).

In 2022, South Africa was the world's biggest exporter of Platinum ($19.1B), Manganese Ore ($2.96B), Chromium Ore ($2.51B), Precious Metal Ore ($1.97B), and Titanium Ore ($656M)

Imports The top imports of South Africa are Refined Petroleum ($17.1B), Cars ($4.62B), Crude Petroleum ($4.34B), Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($3.76B), and Broadcasting Equipment ($3.12B), importing mostly from China ($23.5B), Germany ($9.67B), India ($8.32B), United States ($6.11B), and Saudi Arabia ($4.5B).

Location South Africa borders Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe by land.

Latest Trends

September, 2024

About

Overview In September 2024 South Africa exported ZAR163B and imported ZAR158B, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR5.25B. Between September 2023 and September 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-3.42B (-2.05%) from ZAR166B to ZAR163B, while imports decreased by ZAR-3.6B (-2.23%) from ZAR161B to ZAR158B.

Trade In September 2024, the top exports of South Africa were Platinum (ZAR15.3B), Gold (ZAR11.9B), Iron Ore (ZAR9.72B), Delivery Trucks (ZAR9.59B), and Coal Briquettes (ZAR9.43B). In September 2024 the top imports of South Africa were Refined Petroleum (ZAR17.1B), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR12.1B), Crude Petroleum (ZAR10.4B), Cars (ZAR6.29B), and Telephones (ZAR4.23B).

Origins In September 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR22.9B), Durban (ZAR19.6B), Richards Bay (ZAR17.5B), Cape Town (ZAR12.5B), and Sa Reserwebank (ZAR11.9B), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR80.1B), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR24.1B), Cape Town (ZAR15.2B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR11.3B), and Johannesburg (ZAR4.01B).

Destinations In September 2024, South Africa exported mostly to China (ZAR18.9B), United States (ZAR13.3B), Special Categories (ZAR12B), Mozambique (ZAR10.4B), and Germany (ZAR10.3B), and imported mostly from China (ZAR32.7B), United States (ZAR12.7B), Germany (ZAR10.7B), India (ZAR10.4B), and Thailand (ZAR5.88B).

Growth In September 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports was explained primarily by an decrease in exports to India (ZAR-1.83B or -22.8%), Belgium (ZAR-1.81B or -33.6%), and United Kingdom (ZAR-1.68B or -17.4%), and product exports decrease in Platinum (ZAR-2.58B or -14.4%), Delivery Trucks (ZAR-2.37B or -19.8%), and Soybeans (ZAR-1.49B or -89.9%). In September 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports was explained primarily by an decrease in imports from United Arab Emirates (ZAR-6.73B or -62.6%), Germany (ZAR-3.03B or -22%), and Bermuda (ZAR-1.74B or -99.9%), and product imports decrease in Refined Petroleum (ZAR-8B or -31.8%), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR-2.02B or -14.3%), and Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR-1.12B or -51.7%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Color
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR-3.42B(-2.05%)
IMPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR-3.6B(-2.23%)
MAIN EXPORTER (September 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR22.9B
MAIN DESTINATION (September 2024)ChinaZAR18.9B

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.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

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Historical Data

Yearly Trade

Flow
Color
Depth
Top Export (2022)Gold$22.7B
Top Destination (2022)China$23.4B

In 2022, South Africa exported a total of $147B, making it the number 34 exporter in the world. During the last five reported years the exports of South Africa have changed by $36.7B from $110B in 2017 to $147B in 2022.

The most recent exports are led by Gold ($22.7B), Platinum ($19.1B), Coal Briquettes ($12.7B), Cars ($6.89B), and Diamonds ($6.22B). The most common destination for the exports of South Africa are China ($23.4B), United States ($10.9B), Germany ($9.96B), India ($9.14B), and Japan ($8.85B).

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*Disclaimer:
South Africa is part of the Southern Africa Custom Union (SACU), a custom union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. As part of SACU and given that some countries do not report particular trade with South Africa, the reported data has been gather under the Southern Africa Custom Union single entity, based on the BACI's methodology. The following visualizations shows trade data at Southern Africa Custom Union level.

Exports (2022)
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Destinations (2022)
[Click to Select a Country]

Market Growth

Flow
View
Growth
Fastest Growing Export Markets (2021 - 2022)
China$2.79B (+ 13.5%)
Switzerland$1.89B (+ 41.8%)
Mozambique$1.21B (+ 28.8%)
Fastest Growing Import Markets (2021 - 2022)
China$3.19B (+ 15.7%)
India$2.32B (+ 38.6%)
United Arab Emirates$2.26B (+ 108%)

*Disclaimer:
South Africa is part of the Southern Africa Custom Union (SACU), a custom union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. As part of SACU and given that some countries do not report particular trade with South Africa, the reported data has been gather under the Southern Africa Custom Union single entity, based on the BACI's methodology. The following visualizations shows trade data at Southern Africa Custom Union level.

Total Export Growth by Market (2021 - 2022)

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Type
Flow
Depth
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Service Trade

Service Trade

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).

Service Exports (2018)

Service Imports (2018)

Economic Complexity

Overview

Economic Complexity (Trade)0.076Rank 59 of 133
Economic Complexity (Technology)0.93Rank 24 of 96
Economic Complexity (Research)1.11Rank 23 of 135

Most Specialized Products by RCA Index

South Africa has a high level of specialization in Chromium Ore (116), Manganese Ore (64), Platinum (43.4), Niobium, Tantalum, Vanadium and Zirconium Ore (41.6), and Titanium Ore (31). Specialization is measured using RCA, an index that takes the ratio between South Africa observed and expected exports in each product.

Most Complex Products by PCI

The highest complexity exports of South Africa according to the product complexity index (PCI) are Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, whether or not chemically defined, other... (1.51), Phenols; monophenols, polyphenols, and phenol-alcohols (1.48), Reagents; diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or... (1.45), Copper Springs (1.38), and Ketones and quinones; whether or not with other oxygen function, and their... (1.32). PCI measures the knowledge intensity of a product by considering the knowledge intensity of its exporters.

Export Opportunities by Relatedness

The top export opportunities for South Africa according to the relatedness index, were Crude Petroleum (0.24), Raw Cotton (0.23), Cocoa Shells (0.22), Copper Ore (0.22), and Cocoa Beans (0.21). 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.

Product Space

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.

Relatedness Space

This network shows the products most related to the production structure of South Africa. These are products that tend to be co-exported with the products that South Africa exports. Higher relatedness values ​​indicate greater knowledge, which predicts a greater probability of exporting that product in the future.

Relatedness Space (2022)

Diversification Frontier

Filter
Depth

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.

Diversification Frontier

Economic Complexity Ranking

Methodology
Scale

During the last 20 years South Africa's⁩ ⁨economy has become relatively less complex, moving from the ⁩⁨34th to the 59th⁩ 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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ECI (Trade) Ranking by Country

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