South Africa (ZAF) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (COD) Trade

2023

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Exports $1.56BRnk 21 / 211

2023

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About

South Africa-Democratic Republic of the Congo Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $1.56B to Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main products that South Africa exported to Democratic Republic of the Congo were Liquid Pumps ($96M), Refined Petroleum ($85.5M), and Excavation Machinery ($83.2M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo have increased at an annualized rate of 4.04%, from $1.28B in 2018 to $1.56B in 2023.

In 2023, South Africa did not export any services to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Democratic Republic of the Congo-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Democratic Republic of the Congo exported $115M to South Africa. The main products that Democratic Republic of the Congo exported to South Africa were Refined Copper ($103M), Cobalt Oxides and Hydroxides ($3.37M), and Scrap Copper ($2.41M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 41.2%, from $1.64B in 2018 to $115M in 2023.

In 2023, Democratic Republic of the Congo did not export any services to South Africa.

Comparison: In 2023, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.07), and 34 in total exports ($154B). That same year, Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked 130 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -1.94), and 78 in total exports ($20.7B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR1.6B and imported ZAR138M from Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR1.46B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-705M (-30.6%) from ZAR2.3B to ZAR1.6B, while imports decreased by ZAR-75M (-35.3%) from ZAR213M to ZAR138M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo were Liquid Pumps (ZAR108M), Refined Petroleum (ZAR104M), Stone Processing Machines (ZAR85.1M), Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR54.7M), and Plastic Pipes (ZAR38.3M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Democratic Republic of the Congo were Refined Copper (ZAR165M), Precious Metal Scraps (ZAR19.4M), Machinery Having Individual Functions (ZAR1.65M), Scrap Copper (ZAR400k), and Scrap Iron (ZAR293k).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Groblers Bridge (ZAR802M), Beit Bridge (ZAR423M), Kopfontein (ZAR117M), Germiston/Alberton (ZAR77.2M), and Skilpadsnek (ZAR55.6M), while imports destinations were mainly Groblers Bridge (ZAR118M), Beit Bridge (ZAR19.6M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR209k), and Durban (ZAR31.2k).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Democratic Republic of the Congo was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Insulated Wire (ZAR-34.2M or -55.7%), Sulphur (ZAR-27.3M or -90.3%), and Delivery Trucks (ZAR-20.3M or -92.2%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports from Democratic Republic of the Congo was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports in Scrap Iron (ZAR-833k or -74%), Scrap Copper (ZAR-202k or -33.5%), and Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR-2.2k or -51.2%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale

Year

Quarter

Month

Flow

Exports

Imports

Value

Trade Value

Growth

Growth (%)

Depth

HS2

HS4

HS6

EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-705M(-30.6%)

IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-75M(-35.3%)

MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Groblers BridgeZAR802M

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 Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth

HS2

HS4

HS6

Value

Trade

Growth

Growth (%)

Year

In 2023, South Africa exported $1.56B to Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main products exported from South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo were Liquid Pumps ($96M), Refined Petroleum ($85.5M), and Excavation Machinery ($83.2M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo have increased at an annualized rate of 4.04%, from $1.28B in 2018 to $1.56B in 2023.

In 2018, Democratic Republic of the Congo exported $115M to South Africa. The main products exported from Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa were Refined Copper ($103M), Cobalt Oxides and Hydroxides ($3.37M), and Scrap Copper ($2.41M). During the last 5 years the exports of Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 41.2%, from $1.64B in 2023 to $115M in 2018.

Exports from South Africa () to Democratic Republic of the Congo () (2023)

Exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo () to South Africa () (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color

Exports

Export Growth

Section

Year

South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Top DestinationChina$14.3B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Democratic Republic of the Congo included China ($29.5B), United States ($13B), and Germany ($10.8B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Democratic Republic of the Congo than South Africa included Egypt ($532M), Central African Republic ($20.7M), and Bahrain ($45M).

Difference in imports from Democratic Republic of the Congo () and South Africa () (2023)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Democratic Republic of the Congo

Flow

Section

HS2

HS4

Scale

Log

Linear

Year

This chart compares trade between South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo by product, considering products traded by both, South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Democratic Republic of the Congo in the exports of Machines ($654M), Metals ($213M), and Chemical Products ($152M).

During 2018, Democratic Republic of the Congo had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Metals ($109M), Chemical Products ($3.5M), and Precious Metals ($1.07M).

Potential Exports

Depth

Section

HS2

HS4

View

Top 20

Top 15

Top 10

Sort By

Highest Potential

Most Saturated

Section

Top Product Potential South Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo+$8.83MDelivery Trucks

Top Product Potential Democratic Republic of the Congo South Africa+$16.6MRefined Copper

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

Year

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

Product Space of South Africa () and Democratic Republic of the Congo () (2023)

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