2022
Flag  
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
$4.07TCURRENT US$
Rnk 4 / 186
2012-2022
Flag
GDP GROWTH
15.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 136 / 186
2022
Flag
GDP PC 
$6,776CURRENT US$
Rnk 95 / 186
2012-2022
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH
-17.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 167 / 186
2022
Flag
GDP PC
$48,432CURRENT US$
Rnk 21 / 186
2012-2022
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH
10.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 115 / 186

About

South Africa-Germany Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $9.96B to Germany. The main products that South Africa exported to Germany were Cars ($3.1B), Platinum ($1.6B), and Precious Metal Ore ($1.38B). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Germany have increased at an annualized rate of 10.1%, from $6.15B in 2017 to $9.96B in 2022.

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

Germany-South Africa Trade: In 2022, Germany exported $9.67B to South Africa. The main products that Germany exported to South Africa were Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($1.27B), Cars ($666M), and Precious Metal Compounds ($506M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Germany to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.2%,  from $10.3B in 2017 to $9.67B in 2022.

In 2020, Germany exported services to South Africa worth $1.09B, with Royalties and license fees ($349M), Transportation ($306M), and Other business services ($216M) being the largest in terms of value.

Comparison: In 2022,  South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.076), and 34 in total exports ($147B). That same year, Germany ranked 5 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.78), and 3 in total exports ($1.6T).

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $9.96B to Germany. The main products exported from South Africa to Germany were Cars ($3.1B), Platinum ($1.6B), and Precious Metal Ore ($1.38B). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Germany have increased at an annualized rate of 10.1%, from $6.15B in 2017 to $9.96B in 2022.

In 2017, Germany exported $9.67B to South Africa. The main products exported from Germany to South Africa were Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($1.27B), Cars ($666M), and Precious Metal Compounds ($506M). During the last 5 years the exports of Germany to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 1.2%, from $10.3B in 2022 to $9.67B in 2017.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top Destination
China$23.4B
Germany
Top Destination
United States$153B

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

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from Germany than South Africa included United States ($153B), France ($120B), and Netherlands ($109B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Germany

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with Germany in the exports of Transportation ($3.65B), Mineral Products ($2.41B), and Precious Metals ($1.65B).

During 2017, Germany had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($3.15B), Transportation ($2.48B), and Chemical Products ($1.66B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Germany+$158MCoal Briquettes
Top Product Potential Germany South Africa+$245MCars

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, Germany exported services to South Africa worth $1.09B, with Royalties and license fees ($349M), Transportation ($306M), and Other business services ($216M) being the largest in terms of value.

Service trade data is presented based on availability.

Services Exports from Germany (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 Germany. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over Germany. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of Germany indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa.

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

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