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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $6.31BRnk 7 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $2.36BPlatinum
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.97BRnk 36 / 224
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $139MCars
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.42Rnk 12 / 133
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$3.07TCURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH13.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 139 / 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$45,850CURRENT US$
Rnk 23 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH7.92%CURRENT US$
Rnk 122 / 186

About

South Africa-United Kingdom Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $6.31B to United Kingdom. The main products that South Africa exported to United Kingdom were Platinum ($2.36B), Delivery Trucks ($678M), and Precious Metal Ore ($565M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.27%, from $7.85B in 2017 to $6.31B in 2022.

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

United Kingdom-South Africa Trade: In 2022, United Kingdom exported $1.97B to South Africa. The main products that United Kingdom exported to South Africa were Cars ($139M), Hard Liquor ($138M), and Refined Petroleum ($95M). Over the past 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.5%,  from $2.54B in 2017 to $1.97B in 2022.

In 2019, United Kingdom exported services to South Africa worth $2.92B, with Other business services ($899M), Travel ($591M), and Royalties and license fees ($397M) 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, United Kingdom ranked 12 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.42), and 14 in total exports ($469B).

Latest Trends

September, 2024

About

Overview In September 2024, South Africa exported ZAR7.95B and imported ZAR2.46B from United Kingdom, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR5.49B. Between September 2023 and September 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-1.68B (-17.4%) from ZAR9.63B to ZAR7.95B, while imports increased by ZAR219M (9.75%) from ZAR2.24B to ZAR2.46B.

Trade In September 2024, the top exports of South Africa to United Kingdom were Platinum (ZAR3.24B), Grapes (ZAR539M), Precious Metal Ore (ZAR466M), Coal Briquettes (ZAR368M), and Delivery Trucks (ZAR344M). In September 2024 the top imports of South Africa from United Kingdom were Cars (ZAR272M), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR163M), Hard Liquor (ZAR143M), Stone Processing Machines (ZAR111M), and Computers (ZAR89M).

Origins In September 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR3.37B), Pretoria (ZAR1.65B), Cape Town (ZAR1.12B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR765M), and Richards Bay (ZAR403M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR1.14B), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR607M), Port Elizabeth (ZAR298M), Cape Town (ZAR192M), and Johannesburg (ZAR131M).

Growth In September 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to United Kingdom was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Platinum (ZAR-814M or -20.1%), Delivery Trucks (ZAR-660M or -65.7%), and Precious Metal Ore (ZAR-434M or -48.2%). In September 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from United Kingdom was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Stone Processing Machines (ZAR81.9M or 279%), Machinery Having Individual Functions (ZAR49.1M or 149%), and Electric Generating Sets (ZAR38.5M or 56.1k%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR-1.68B(-17.4%)
IMPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR219M(9.75%)
MAIN EXPORTER (September 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR3.37B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore United Kingdom and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $6.31B to United Kingdom. The main products exported from South Africa to United Kingdom were Platinum ($2.36B), Delivery Trucks ($678M), and Precious Metal Ore ($565M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to United Kingdom have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.27%, from $7.85B in 2017 to $6.31B in 2022.

In 2017, United Kingdom exported $1.97B to South Africa. The main products exported from United Kingdom to South Africa were Cars ($139M), Hard Liquor ($138M), and Refined Petroleum ($95M). During the last 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 2.5%, from $2.54B in 2022 to $1.97B in 2017.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to United Kingdom (Flag) (2022)

Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B
United Kingdom
Top DestinationUnited States$61.8B

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

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from United Kingdom than South Africa included United States ($61.8B), Netherlands ($41.9B), and Ireland ($32.6B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - United Kingdom

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with United Kingdom in the exports of Precious Metals ($2.84B), Mineral Products ($878M), and Transportation ($847M).

During 2017, United Kingdom had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($601M), Transportation ($287M), and Chemical Products ($263M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa United Kingdom+$300MGold
Top Product Potential United Kingdom South Africa+$92.2MRefined Petroleum

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 2019, United Kingdom exported services to South Africa worth $2.92B, with Other business services ($899M), Travel ($591M), and Royalties and license fees ($397M) being the largest in terms of value.

Service trade data is presented based on availability.

Services Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2019)

Service Trade

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

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

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and United Kingdom (Flag) (2022)

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