NEW: World Trade TARIFFS Simulator!
NEW: 2023 Data and Complexity Rankings
Sign In
Pricing

2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $1.34BRnk 24 / 211
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $197MRefined Petroleum
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $351MRnk 1 / 105
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $38.3MWool
2023
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
Flag  
GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
Flag
 GDP$2.12BCURRENT US$
Rnk 175 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP GROWTH-10.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 181 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC $6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 195
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195
2023
Flag
GDP PC$916CURRENT US$
Rnk 180 / 196
2013-2023
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH-20.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 179 / 195

About

South Africa-Lesotho Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $1.34B to Lesotho. The main products that South Africa exported to Lesotho were Refined Petroleum ($197M), Cereal Flours ($40.1M), and Delivery Trucks ($37.6M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Lesotho have increased at an annualized rate of 2.97%, from $1.15B in 2018 to $1.34B in 2023.

In 2023, South Africa did not export any services to Lesotho.

Lesotho-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Lesotho exported $351M to South Africa. The main products that Lesotho exported to South Africa were Wool ($38.3M), Non-Knit Women's Suits ($37M), and Non-Knit Men's Suits ($35M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Lesotho to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.21%,  from $300M in 2018 to $351M in 2023.

In 2023, Lesotho 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, Lesotho ranked 158 in total exports ($1.14B), and does not have data regarding Economic Complexity Index.

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR2.39B and imported ZAR677M from Lesotho, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR1.72B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-17.3M (-0.72%) from ZAR2.41B to ZAR2.39B, while imports decreased by ZAR-13.3M (-1.93%) from ZAR691M to ZAR677M.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Lesotho were Refined Petroleum (ZAR269M), Poultry Meat (ZAR49.2M), Cereal Meal and Pellets (ZAR48.6M), Delivery Trucks (ZAR39.7M), and Electricity (ZAR38.1M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Lesotho were Wool (ZAR89.4M), Non-Knit Men's Suits (ZAR59.7M), Low-voltage Protection Equipment (ZAR32.8M), Non-Knit Women's Suits (ZAR28.3M), and Bedspreads (ZAR27.4M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Maseru Bridge (ZAR1.45B), Ficksburg Bridge (ZAR449M), Caledonspoort (ZAR277M), Johannesburg (ZAR119M), and Van Rooyenshek (ZAR91.1M), while imports destinations were mainly Maseru Bridge (ZAR383M), Ficksburg Bridge (ZAR286M), Qachasnek (ZAR6.67M), Golela (ZAR667k), and Caledonspoort (ZAR480k).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Lesotho was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Wheat (ZAR-89.9M or -91.4%), Electrical Power Accessories (ZAR-21.7M or -42.4%), and Light Pure Woven Cotton (ZAR-20.4M or -83.3%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Lesotho was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Low-voltage Protection Equipment (ZAR-29.9M or -47.7%), Non-Knit Men's Coats (ZAR-3.2M or -33.9%), and Knit Men's Shirts (ZAR-2.99M or -49.2%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-17.3M(-0.72%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-13.3M(-1.93%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)Maseru BridgeZAR1.45B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Lesotho and South Africa Data

Go to Bulk Download

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $1.34B to Lesotho. The main products exported from South Africa to Lesotho were Refined Petroleum ($197M), Cereal Flours ($40.1M), and Delivery Trucks ($37.6M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Lesotho have increased at an annualized rate of 2.97%, from $1.15B in 2018 to $1.34B in 2023.

In 2018, Lesotho exported $351M to South Africa. The main products exported from Lesotho to South Africa were Wool ($38.3M), Non-Knit Women's Suits ($37M), and Non-Knit Men's Suits ($35M). During the last 5 years the exports of Lesotho to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.21%, from $300M in 2023 to $351M in 2018.

Exports from South Africa (Flag) to Lesotho (Flag) (2023)

Exports from Lesotho (Flag) to South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Lesotho
Top DestinationSouth Africa$351M

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

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

In 2023, no countries were registered that imported more from Lesotho than from South Africa.

Difference in imports from Lesotho (Flag) and South Africa (Flag) (2023)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Lesotho

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Lesotho in the exports of Mineral Products ($280M), Machines ($151M), and Vegetable Products ($151M).

During 2018, Lesotho had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Textiles ($239M), Machines ($41.6M), and Vegetable Products ($20.6M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Lesotho+$1.98MCars
Top Product Potential Lesotho South Africa+$5.44MKnit Women's Suits

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.

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Subscribe today to OEC pro and access the latest data

Sign Up

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

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

Product Space of South Africa (Flag) and Lesotho (Flag) (2023)

Keep Exploring

Have questions, comments, or concerns?
Send us an e-mail: support@oec.world
Follow @OECtoday on
Created, Designed, and Developed by:
In collaboration with
About the OECPrivacy PolicyTerms