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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $23.4BRnk 1 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $8.85BGold
2022
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Exports $23.5BRnk 33 / 211
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $1.78BBroadcasting Equipment
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.12Rnk 22 / 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$18TCURRENT US$
Rnk 2 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH111%CURRENT US$
Rnk 11 / 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$12,720CURRENT US$
Rnk 67 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH102%CURRENT US$
Rnk 8 / 186

About

South Africa-China Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $23.4B to China. The main products that South Africa exported to China were Gold ($8.85B), Diamonds ($3.36B), and Platinum ($1.83B). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to China have increased at an annualized rate of 5.64%, from $17.8B in 2017 to $23.4B in 2022.

In 2022, South Africa did not export any services to China.

China-South Africa Trade: In 2022, China exported $23.5B to South Africa. The main products that China exported to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($1.78B), Computers ($1.04B), and Electric Batteries ($777M). Over the past 5 years the exports of China to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 8.99%,  from $15.3B in 2017 to $23.5B in 2022.

In 2022, China 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, China ranked 22 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.12), and 1 in total exports ($3.73T).

Latest Trends

September, 2024

About

Overview In September 2024, South Africa exported ZAR18.9B and imported ZAR32.7B from China, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR13.7B. Between September 2023 and September 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-541M (-2.78%) from ZAR19.5B to ZAR18.9B, while imports increased by ZAR1.36B (4.34%) from ZAR31.3B to ZAR32.7B.

Trade In September 2024, the top exports of South Africa to China were Iron Ore (ZAR4.84B), Ferroalloys (ZAR4.35B), Manganese Ore (ZAR2.94B), Chromium Ore (ZAR2.06B), and Dissolving Grades Chemical Woodpulp (ZAR1.87B). In September 2024 the top imports of South Africa from China were Telephones (ZAR3.3B), Refined Petroleum (ZAR3.2B), Computers (ZAR2.15B), Cars (ZAR1.64B), and Electric Batteries (ZAR1.62B).

Origins In September 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Saldanha Bay (ZAR5.85B), Durban (ZAR3.99B), Richards Bay (ZAR3.12B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR2.19B), and Komatipoort (ZAR2.03B), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR20.9B), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR4.85B), Cape Town (ZAR4B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR1.13B), and Johannesburg (ZAR904M).

Growth In September 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to China was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Iron Ore (ZAR-692M or -12.5%), Raw Nickel (ZAR-69.7M or -46.1%), and Raw Copper (ZAR-59.4M or -30.5%). In September 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from China was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Refined Petroleum (ZAR3.2B or 83k%), Cars (ZAR1.39B or 560%), and Electric Batteries (ZAR1.11B or 220%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR-541M(-2.78%)
IMPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR1.36B(4.34%)
MAIN EXPORTER (September 2024)Saldanha BayZAR5.85B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore China and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $23.4B to China. The main products exported from South Africa to China were Gold ($8.85B), Diamonds ($3.36B), and Platinum ($1.83B). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to China have increased at an annualized rate of 5.64%, from $17.8B in 2017 to $23.4B in 2022.

In 2017, China exported $23.5B to South Africa. The main products exported from China to South Africa were Broadcasting Equipment ($1.78B), Computers ($1.04B), and Electric Batteries ($777M). During the last 5 years the exports of China to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 8.99%, from $15.3B in 2022 to $23.5B in 2017.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to China (Flag) (2022)

Exports from China (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B
China
Top DestinationUnited States$551B

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from South Africa than China included Botswana ($4.74B), Namibia ($3.3B), and Mozambique ($5.43B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from China than South Africa included United States ($551B), Hong Kong ($276B), and Japan ($178B).

Difference in imports from China (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - China

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with China in the exports of Precious Metals ($14.1B), Mineral Products ($5.62B), and Metals ($2.26B).

During 2017, China had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($9.65B), Metals ($2.46B), and Textiles ($2.1B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa China+$587MIron Ore
Top Product Potential China South Africa+$305MTelephones

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

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and China (Flag) (2022)

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