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2023
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Exports $1.98BRnk 38 / 211
2023
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Top Product $372MCars
2023
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Exports $7.34BRnk 6 / 211
2023
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Top Product $4.19BPlatinum
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 2.07Rnk 1 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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GDP$4.2TCURRENT US$
Rnk 4 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-19.3%CURRENT US$
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2023
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 GDP$381BCURRENT US$
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2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
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GDP PC $33,767CURRENT US$
Rnk 38 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.4%CURRENT US$
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2023
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GDP PC$6,023CURRENT US$
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2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
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About

Japan-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Japan exported $1.98B to South Africa. The main products that Japan exported to South Africa were Cars ($372M), Large Construction Vehicles ($165M), and Delivery Trucks ($126M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Japan to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.76%, from $2.16B in 2018 to $1.98B in 2023.

In 2009, Japan exported services to South Africa worth $748M, with Services not allocated ($374M), Transportation ($128M), and Royalties and license fees ($115M) being the largest in terms of value.

South Africa-Japan Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $7.34B to Japan. The main products that South Africa exported to Japan were Platinum ($4.19B), Coal Briquettes ($626M), and Iron Ore ($517M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 4.64%,  from $5.85B in 2018 to $7.34B in 2023.

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

Comparison: In 2023,  Japan ranked 1 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 2.07), and 4 in total exports ($766B). That same year, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, Japan exported ¥28.5B and imported ¥80.7B from South Africa, resulting in a negative trade balance of ¥52.2B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of Japan have increased by ¥3.3B (13.1%) from ¥25.2B to ¥28.5B, while imports increased by ¥16.9B (26.4%) from ¥63.9B to ¥80.7B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of Japan to South Africa were Cars (¥3.78B), Delivery Trucks (¥2.87B), Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701... (¥2.58B), Buses (¥2.04B), and Large Construction Vehicles (¥1.14B). In November 2024 the top imports of Japan from South Africa were Platinum (¥52.6B), Coal Briquettes (¥11.7B), Iron Ore (¥8.27B), Cars (¥7.06B), and Ferroalloys (¥3.43B).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of Japan were mainly from Aichi (¥15.1B), Kanagawa (¥3.5B), Ibaraki (¥2.37B), Tokyo (¥2.05B), and Fukuoka (¥1.52B), while imports destinations were mainly Chiba (¥52.5B), Aichi (¥7.11B), Ibaraki (¥4.34B), Niigata (¥3.07B), and Fukushima (¥1.82B).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in Japan's year-by-year exports to South Africa was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Cars (¥449M or 13.5%), Fork-Lifts (¥412M or 372%), and Thermostats (¥293M or 64.8%). In November 2024, the increase in Japan's year-by-year imports  from South Africa was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Cars (¥6.62B or 1.52k%), Raw Aluminium (¥1.82B or 360%), and Fuel Wood (¥1.04B or 73.1%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)¥3.3B(13.1%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)¥16.9B(26.4%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Aichi¥15.1B

This section shows exports and imports data at subnational level for Japan. Click any date in the line plot, any subnational region in the geomap or any product to explore the exports or imports behavior of Japan over time.

To check South Africa and Japan trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore South Africa and Japan Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, Japan exported $1.98B to South Africa. The main products exported from Japan to South Africa were Cars ($372M), Large Construction Vehicles ($165M), and Delivery Trucks ($126M). During the last 5 years the exports of Japan to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.76%, from $2.16B in 2018 to $1.98B in 2023.

In 2018, South Africa exported $7.34B to Japan. The main products exported from South Africa to Japan were Platinum ($4.19B), Coal Briquettes ($626M), and Iron Ore ($517M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Japan have increased at an annualized rate of 4.64%, from $5.85B in 2023 to $7.34B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
Japan
Top DestinationUnited States$143B
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from Japan than South Africa included United States ($143B), China ($138B), and Chinese Taipei ($43B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Japan included Mozambique ($6.13B), Botswana ($4.28B), and Zimbabwe ($3.47B).

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

Comparative Advantage Japan - South Africa

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, Japan had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Transportation ($686M), Machines ($686M), and Plastics and Rubbers ($144M).

During 2018, South Africa had a large net trade with Japan in the exports of Precious Metals ($4.2B), Mineral Products ($1.47B), and Metals ($552M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential Japan South Africa+$180MCars
Top Product Potential South Africa Japan+$292MCoal Briquettes

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 Japan and South Africa. This means that a dot/product with the flag of Japan indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over Japan.

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

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