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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $2.02BRnk 19 / 211
2023
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Top Product $905MGold
2023
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Exports $352MRnk 52 / 215
2023
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Top Product $30.2MGas Turbines
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.9Rnk 30 / 132
2023
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GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
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 GDP$2.14TCURRENT US$
Rnk 10 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH16%CURRENT US$
Rnk 150 / 195
2023
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GDP PC $6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195
2023
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GDP PC$53,431CURRENT US$
Rnk 22 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH1.51%CURRENT US$
Rnk 152 / 195

About

South Africa-Canada Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $2.02B to Canada. The main products that South Africa exported to Canada were Gold ($905M), Platinum ($444M), and Citrus ($122M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Canada have increased at an annualized rate of 21.9%, from $751M in 2018 to $2.02B in 2023.

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

Canada-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Canada exported $352M to South Africa. The main products that Canada exported to South Africa were Gas Turbines ($30.2M), Excavation Machinery ($21M), and Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($17.9M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Canada to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.31%,  from $396M in 2018 to $352M in 2023.

In 2020, Canada exported services to South Africa worth $60.4M, with Travel ($21.6M), Royalties and license fees ($15.7M), and Transportation ($10.4M) being the largest in terms of value.

Comparison: In 2023,  South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B). That same year, Canada ranked 30 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.9), and 10 in total exports ($574B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR391M and imported ZAR549M from Canada, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR157M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-30.7M (-7.26%) from ZAR422M to ZAR391M, while imports decreased by ZAR-116M (-17.4%) from ZAR664M to ZAR549M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Canada were Grapes (ZAR209M), Inorganic Salts (ZAR42.7M), Reaction and Catalytic Products (ZAR41.8M), Excavation Machinery (ZAR31M), and Printed Circuit Boards (ZAR23.4M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Canada were Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft (ZAR136M), Excavation Machinery (ZAR38.6M), Scented Mixtures (ZAR28.5M), Reaction and Catalytic Products (ZAR28.3M), and Gas Turbines (ZAR27.9M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Durban (ZAR127M), Cape Town (ZAR108M), Johannesburg (ZAR70.7M), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR39.3M), and O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR27.3M), while imports destinations were mainly O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR277M), Durban (ZAR197M), Cape Town (ZAR40.1M), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR14.5M), and Johannesburg (ZAR9.34M).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Canada was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Grapes (ZAR-66.8M or -24.2%), Wine (ZAR-32.4M or -66.7%), and Insulated Wire (ZAR-28.3M or -72.8%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Canada was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Electric Soldering Equipment (ZAR-19.7M or -98.6%), Spark-Ignition Engines (ZAR-17.7M or -99%), and Soap (ZAR-15.2M or -100%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-30.7M(-7.26%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-116M(-17.4%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)DurbanZAR127M

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 Canada and South Africa trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Canada and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $2.02B to Canada. The main products exported from South Africa to Canada were Gold ($905M), Platinum ($444M), and Citrus ($122M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Canada have increased at an annualized rate of 21.9%, from $751M in 2018 to $2.02B in 2023.

In 2018, Canada exported $352M to South Africa. The main products exported from Canada to South Africa were Gas Turbines ($30.2M), Excavation Machinery ($21M), and Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft ($17.9M). During the last 5 years the exports of Canada to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.31%, from $396M in 2023 to $352M in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Canada
Top DestinationUnited States$410B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Canada included Mozambique ($6.13B), Germany ($10.8B), and Botswana ($4.28B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Canada than South Africa included United States ($410B), United Kingdom ($18B), and Mexico ($8.76B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Canada

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Canada in the exports of Precious Metals ($1.35B), Vegetable Products ($193M), and Machines ($93M).

During 2018, Canada had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($149M), Chemical Products ($49M), and Transportation ($28.2M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Canada+$126MGold
Top Product Potential Canada South Africa+$16.7MMotor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705)

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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Bilateral Service Trade

In 2020, Canada exported services to South Africa worth $60.4M, with Travel ($21.6M), Royalties and license fees ($15.7M), and Transportation ($10.4M) being the largest in terms of value.

Service trade data is presented based on availability.

Services Exports from Canada (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2020)

Service Trade

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of South Africa and Canada. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over Canada. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of Canada indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa.

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

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