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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $810MRnk 28 / 211
2023
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Top Product $123MSoybeans
2023
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Exports $1.24BRnk 30 / 221
2023
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Top Product $595MRefined Petroleum
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.07Rnk 59 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.04Rnk 27 / 132
2023
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GDP$381BCURRENT US$
Rnk 40 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH-5.04%CURRENT US$
Rnk 177 / 195
2023
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 GDP$400BCURRENT US$
Rnk 37 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH23.6%CURRENT US$
Rnk 130 / 195
2023
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GDP PC $6,023CURRENT US$
Rnk 113 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH-17.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 178 / 195
2023
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GDP PC$11,379CURRENT US$
Rnk 85 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH6.21%CURRENT US$
Rnk 145 / 195

About

South Africa-Malaysia Trade: In 2023, South Africa exported $810M to Malaysia. The main products that South Africa exported to Malaysia were Soybeans ($123M), Manganese Ore ($96M), and Coal Briquettes ($71M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Malaysia have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.24%, from $819M in 2018 to $810M in 2023.

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

Malaysia-South Africa Trade: In 2023, Malaysia exported $1.24B to South Africa. The main products that Malaysia exported to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($595M), Palm Oil ($93.3M), and Broadcasting Equipment ($46.4M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Malaysia to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.5%,  from $1.01B in 2018 to $1.24B in 2023.

In 2023, Malaysia 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, Malaysia ranked 27 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.04), and 19 in total exports ($383B).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, South Africa exported ZAR234M and imported ZAR1.08B from Malaysia, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR850M. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-1.49B (-86.4%) from ZAR1.72B to ZAR234M, while imports decreased by ZAR-2.39B (-68.8%) from ZAR3.48B to ZAR1.08B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Malaysia were Manganese Ore (ZAR289M), Soybeans (ZAR267M), Coal Briquettes (ZAR201M), Grapes (ZAR61.1M), and Niobium, Tantalum, Vanadium and Zirconium Ore (ZAR42.2M). In November 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Malaysia were Refined Petroleum (ZAR1.22B), Palm Oil (ZAR87.5M), Telephones (ZAR86.2M), Industrial Fatty Acids, Oils and Alcohols (ZAR62.5M), and Electrical Control Boards (ZAR46.8M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Durban (ZAR150M), Cape Town (ZAR46.8M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR17.3M), Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR14.6M), and Johannesburg (ZAR2.62M), while imports destinations were mainly Durban (ZAR658M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR240M), Cape Town (ZAR85.8M), Port Elizabeth (ZAR68.7M), and Cape Town Int Airport (ZAR19.6M).

Growth In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Malaysia was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Other Fruits (ZAR-10.6M or -88.6%), Apples and Pears (ZAR-6.48M or -22.5%), and Rough Wood (ZAR-4.76M or -77.5%). In November 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from Malaysia was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Radio Receivers (ZAR-18.7M or -93.4%), Saturated Acyclic Monocarboxylic Acids (ZAR-18.6M or -50%), and Video Displays (ZAR-11.3M or -96.8%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-1.49B(-86.4%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)ZAR-2.39B(-68.8%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)DurbanZAR150M

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore Malaysia and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2023, South Africa exported $810M to Malaysia. The main products exported from South Africa to Malaysia were Soybeans ($123M), Manganese Ore ($96M), and Coal Briquettes ($71M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Malaysia have decreased at an annualized rate of 0.24%, from $819M in 2018 to $810M in 2023.

In 2018, Malaysia exported $1.24B to South Africa. The main products exported from Malaysia to South Africa were Refined Petroleum ($595M), Palm Oil ($93.3M), and Broadcasting Equipment ($46.4M). During the last 5 years the exports of Malaysia to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.5%, from $1.01B in 2023 to $1.24B in 2018.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$29.5B
Malaysia
Top DestinationChina$79.8B

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

In 2023, countries that imported more from South Africa than Malaysia included Mozambique ($6.13B), United Kingdom ($9.01B), and Botswana ($4.28B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from Malaysia than South Africa included China ($79.8B), Singapore ($47.3B), and United States ($44.9B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Malaysia

Flow
Scale

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

During 2023, South Africa had a large net trade with Malaysia in the exports of Mineral Products ($276M), Vegetable Products ($250M), and Metals ($144M).

During 2018, Malaysia had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Mineral Products ($598M), Machines ($220M), and Animal and Vegetable Bi-Products ($128M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa Malaysia+$88.6MCoal Briquettes
Top Product Potential Malaysia South Africa+$132MRefined 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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Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

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

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

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