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Pricing

2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $563MRnk 37 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $82.5MSemi-Finished Iron
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $57.9MRnk 29 / 180
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $24.1MGold
2022
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI -0.5Rnk 87 / 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$113BCURRENT US$
Rnk 66 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH101%CURRENT US$
Rnk 13 / 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$2,099CURRENT US$
Rnk 148 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH62.8%CURRENT US$
Rnk 24 / 186

About

South Africa-Kenya Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $563M to Kenya. The main products that South Africa exported to Kenya were Semi-Finished Iron ($82.5M), Coal Briquettes ($52.5M), and Delivery Trucks ($52.3M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Kenya have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.84%, from $721M in 2017 to $563M in 2022.

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

Kenya-South Africa Trade: In 2022, Kenya exported $57.9M to South Africa. The main products that Kenya exported to South Africa were Gold ($24.1M), Carbonates ($8.92M), and Cut Flowers ($4.12M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Kenya to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 21%,  from $22.4M in 2017 to $57.9M in 2022.

In 2022, Kenya 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, Kenya ranked 87 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.5), and 115 in total exports ($7.34B).

Latest Trends

September, 2024

About

Overview In September 2024, South Africa exported ZAR769M and imported ZAR67.9M from Kenya, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR701M. Between September 2023 and September 2024 the exports of South Africa have increased by ZAR215M (38.7%) from ZAR554M to ZAR769M, while imports increased by ZAR36M (113%) from ZAR31.9M to ZAR67.9M.

Trade In September 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Kenya were Semi-Finished Iron (ZAR244M), Delivery Trucks (ZAR50.8M), Hot-Rolled Iron Bars (ZAR45.4M), Aircraft parts including unmanned craft (ZAR33.5M), and Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft (ZAR29.6M). In September 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Kenya were Raw Tobacco (ZAR15.5M), Coffee (ZAR5.84M), Cellulose Fibers Paper (ZAR3.54M), Tea (ZAR2.65M), and Legumes (ZAR2.48M).

Origins In September 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Durban (ZAR346M), Cape Town (ZAR98.5M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR94M), Port Elizabeth (ZAR79.4M), and Richards Bay (ZAR71M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR43.5M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR16.3M), Cape Town (ZAR6.9M), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR885k), and Kopfontein (ZAR179k).

Growth In September 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Kenya was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Semi-Finished Iron (ZAR189M or 341%), Aircraft parts including unmanned craft (ZAR33.3M or 21k%), and Delivery Trucks (ZAR28.1M or 124%). In September 2024, the increase in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Kenya was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Margarine (ZAR1.8M or 413%), Plastic Lids (ZAR1.73M or 1.41M%), and Tea (ZAR1.69M or 175%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR215M(38.7%)
IMPORT GROWTH (September 2023 - September 2024)ZAR36M(113%)
MAIN EXPORTER (September 2024)DurbanZAR346M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Kenya and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $563M to Kenya. The main products exported from South Africa to Kenya were Semi-Finished Iron ($82.5M), Coal Briquettes ($52.5M), and Delivery Trucks ($52.3M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Kenya have decreased at an annualized rate of 4.84%, from $721M in 2017 to $563M in 2022.

In 2017, Kenya exported $57.9M to South Africa. The main products exported from Kenya to South Africa were Gold ($24.1M), Carbonates ($8.92M), and Cut Flowers ($4.12M). During the last 5 years the exports of Kenya to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 21%, from $22.4M in 2022 to $57.9M in 2017.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B
Kenya
Top DestinationUnited States$722M

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from South Africa than Kenya included China ($23.4B), United States ($10.9B), and Germany ($9.96B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from Kenya than South Africa included Uganda ($677M), Rwanda ($439M), and South Sudan ($170M).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Kenya

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with Kenya in the exports of Metals ($123M), Mineral Products ($87.2M), and Transportation ($86.4M).

During 2017, Kenya had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Precious Metals ($24.1M), Chemical Products ($11.5M), and Vegetable Products ($10.2M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Kenya+$15.3MCars
Top Product Potential Kenya South Africa+$1.96MTea

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

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

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