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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $4.2BRnk 11 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $1.62BGold
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $4.36BRnk 21 / 219
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $3.56BRefined Petroleum
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.24Rnk 53 / 133
2022
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GDP$406BCURRENT US$
Rnk 37 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH-6.57%CURRENT US$
Rnk 171 / 186
2022
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 GDP$508BCURRENT US$
Rnk 28 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH32%CURRENT US$
Rnk 93 / 186
2022
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GDP PC $6,776CURRENT US$
Rnk 95 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 167 / 186
2022
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GDP PC$53,758CURRENT US$
Rnk 16 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH21.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 81 / 186

About

South Africa-United Arab Emirates Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $4.2B to United Arab Emirates. The main products that South Africa exported to United Arab Emirates were Gold ($1.62B), Diamonds ($1.28B), and Ferroalloys ($167M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Arab Emirates have increased at an annualized rate of 9.87%, from $2.62B in 2017 to $4.2B in 2022.

In 2022, South Africa did not export any services to United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates-South Africa Trade: In 2022, United Arab Emirates exported $4.36B to South Africa. The main products that United Arab Emirates exported to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($3.56B), Copper Wire ($241M), and Platinum ($55.2M). Over the past 5 years the exports of United Arab Emirates to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 26.6%,  from $1.34B in 2017 to $4.36B in 2022.

In 2022, United Arab Emirates 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, United Arab Emirates ranked 53 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.24), and 18 in total exports ($402B).

Latest Trends

June, 2024

About

Overview In June 2024, South Africa exported ZAR3.15B and imported ZAR4.59B from United Arab Emirates, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR1.45B. Between June 2023 and June 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-301M (-8.74%) from ZAR3.45B to ZAR3.15B, while imports decreased by ZAR-3.1B (-40.3%) from ZAR7.69B to ZAR4.59B.

Trade In June 2024, the top exports of South Africa to United Arab Emirates were Diamonds (ZAR846M), Ferroalloys (ZAR356M), Jewellery (ZAR135M), Blank Audio Media (ZAR131M), and Pitted Fruits (ZAR94.1M). In June 2024 the top imports of South Africa from United Arab Emirates were Refined Petroleum (ZAR5.46B), Copper Wire (ZAR213M), Raw Sugar (ZAR65.7M), Raw Aluminium (ZAR47.7M), and Ethylene Polymers (ZAR22.4M).

Origins In June 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR1.16B), Durban (ZAR849M), Cape Town (ZAR367M), Port Elizabeth (ZAR204M), and Komatipoort (ZAR197M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR3.53B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR356M), Mosselbay (ZAR274M), Richards Bay (ZAR229M), and Cape Town (ZAR83.3M).

Growth In June 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to United Arab Emirates was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Ferroalloys (ZAR-462M or -56.4%), Large Flat-Rolled Stainless Steel (ZAR-31.2M or -71.1%), and Office Machine Parts (ZAR-19.8M or -99.7%). In June 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from United Arab Emirates was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Flavored Water (ZAR-29.9M or -63.2%), Propylene Polymers (ZAR-22.4M or -80%), and Liquid Dispersing Machines (ZAR-11M or -58.6%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (June 2023 - June 2024)ZAR-301M(-8.74%)
IMPORT GROWTH (June 2023 - June 2024)ZAR-3.1B(-40.3%)
MAIN EXPORTER (June 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR1.16B

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 United Arab Emirates and South Africa trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore United Arab Emirates and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $4.2B to United Arab Emirates. The main products exported from South Africa to United Arab Emirates were Gold ($1.62B), Diamonds ($1.28B), and Ferroalloys ($167M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Arab Emirates have increased at an annualized rate of 9.87%, from $2.62B in 2017 to $4.2B in 2022.

In 2017, United Arab Emirates exported $4.36B to South Africa. The main products exported from United Arab Emirates to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($3.56B), Copper Wire ($241M), and Platinum ($55.2M). During the last 5 years the exports of United Arab Emirates to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 26.6%, from $1.34B in 2022 to $4.36B in 2017.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to United Arab Emirates (Flag) (2022)

Exports from United Arab Emirates (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B
United Arab Emirates
Top DestinationIndia$51B

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from South Africa than United Arab Emirates included Germany ($9.96B), Mozambique ($5.43B), and Botswana ($4.74B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from United Arab Emirates than South Africa included India ($51B), Japan ($40.9B), and Saudi Arabia ($27.8B).

Difference in imports from United Arab Emirates (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - United Arab Emirates

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with United Arab Emirates in the exports of Precious Metals ($2.98B), Vegetable Products ($307M), and Metals ($256M).

During 2017, United Arab Emirates had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Mineral Products ($3.58B), Metals ($335M), and Machines ($116M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa United Arab Emirates+$154MGold
Top Product Potential United Arab Emirates South Africa+$22.2MGold

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

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and United Arab Emirates (Flag) (2022)

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