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2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $10.9BRnk 2 / 214
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $3.97BPlatinum
2022
Flag → Flag
Exports $6.11BRnk 43 / 219
2022
Flag → Flag
Top Product $370MMotor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705)
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 0.076Rnk 59 / 133
2022
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.47Rnk 10 / 133
2022
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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$25.5TCURRENT US$
Rnk 1 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP GROWTH56.7%CURRENT US$
Rnk 45 / 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$76,399CURRENT US$
Rnk 8 / 186
2012-2022
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GDP PC GROWTH47.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 39 / 186

About

South Africa-United States Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $10.9B to United States. The main products that South Africa exported to United States were Platinum ($3.97B), Cars ($1B), and Gold ($497M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to United States have increased at an annualized rate of 9.3%, from $6.98B in 2017 to $10.9B in 2022.

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

United States-South Africa Trade: In 2022, United States exported $6.11B to South Africa. The main products that United States exported to South Africa were Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($370M), Cars ($273M), and Precious Metal Compounds ($246M). Over the past 5 years the exports of United States to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.15%,  from $5.23B in 2017 to $6.11B in 2022.

In 2017, United States exported services to South Africa worth $2.71B, with Travel ($629M), Royalties and license fees ($590M), and Financial services ($479M) 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 States ranked 10 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.47), and 2 in total exports ($1.95T).

Latest Trends

August, 2024

About

Overview In August 2024, South Africa exported ZAR9.55B and imported ZAR9.73B from United States, resulting in a negative trade balance of ZAR172M. Between August 2023 and August 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-2.43B (-20.3%) from ZAR12B to ZAR9.55B, while imports decreased by ZAR-4.88B (-33.4%) from ZAR14.6B to ZAR9.73B.

Trade In August 2024, the top exports of South Africa to United States were Platinum (ZAR4.78B), Raw Aluminium (ZAR970M), Ferroalloys (ZAR620M), Granulated Slag (ZAR586M), and Aluminium Plating (ZAR438M). In August 2024 the top imports of South Africa from United States were Documents of title (bonds etc) and... (ZAR2.22B), Planes, Helicopters, and/or Spacecraft (ZAR793M), Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR706M), Computers (ZAR409M), and Precious Metal Compounds (ZAR287M).

Origins In August 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR4.39B), Cape Town (ZAR1.38B), Durban (ZAR1.38B), Richards Bay (ZAR854M), and East London (ZAR716M), while imports destinations were mainly O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR4.51B), Durban (ZAR1.99B), Port Elizabeth (ZAR791M), Richards Bay (ZAR772M), and Pretoria (ZAR633M).

Growth In August 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to United States was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Platinum (ZAR-741M or -13.4%), Carbides (ZAR-194M or -65.1%), and Centrifuges (ZAR-167M or -59.8%). In August 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports  from United States was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Precious Metal Compounds (ZAR-123M or -30%), Machinery Having Individual Functions (ZAR-93.2M or -73.4%), and Cars (ZAR-75.7M or -31.9%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (August 2023 - August 2024)ZAR-2.43B(-20.3%)
IMPORT GROWTH (August 2023 - August 2024)ZAR-4.88B(-33.4%)
MAIN EXPORTER (August 2024)O.R. Tambo Int AirportZAR4.39B

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

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore United States and South Africa Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2022, South Africa exported $10.9B to United States. The main products exported from South Africa to United States were Platinum ($3.97B), Cars ($1B), and Gold ($497M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to United States have increased at an annualized rate of 9.3%, from $6.98B in 2017 to $10.9B in 2022.

In 2017, United States exported $6.11B to South Africa. The main products exported from United States to South Africa were Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701 to 8705) ($370M), Cars ($273M), and Precious Metal Compounds ($246M). During the last 5 years the exports of United States to South Africa have increased at an annualized rate of 3.15%, from $5.23B in 2022 to $6.11B in 2017.

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

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

Market Competitiveness

Color
South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B
United States
Top DestinationCanada$308B

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

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

In 2022, countries that imported more from United States than South Africa included Canada ($308B), Mexico ($294B), and China ($151B).

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

Comparative Advantage South Africa - United States

Flow
Scale

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

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with United States in the exports of Precious Metals ($5.05B), Metals ($1.59B), and Transportation ($1.25B).

During 2017, United States had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Machines ($1.6B), Transportation ($1.11B), and Chemical Products ($920M).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential South Africa United States+$856MCars
Top Product Potential United States South Africa+$281MRefined 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 United States. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over United States. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of United States indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa.

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

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