Sud-àfrica: Visió econòmica i política
South Africa is very open to international trade, which represents around 65% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). The country mainly exports platinum (13.7%, as the country produces 80% of the global output), coal (11%), iron ores (5.3%), motor vehicles (4.7%), and gold (4.3%). The main imports are petroleum oils (16.7%), motor vehicles (4%), crude oil (3.9%), and telephones (3.3% - Comtrade).
South Africa's top exporting countries are China (9.6%), the United States (8.8%), Germany (7.3%), Japan (7%), and the UK (5.2%). One-fifth of imports come from China, followed by India (7.4%), Germany (7.3%), the U.S. (7.3%), and Saudi Arabia (4% - Comtrade). South Africa is the EU's largest trading partner in Africa: exports to the EU have been growing and becoming more diverse, with the country moving from mainly commodity-based products to a more diversified export profile that includes manufactured goods (World Bank). In 2022, South Africa conducted intra-African merchandise trade worth around USD 40 billion, 17% of its total merchandise trade (+13% y-o-y). South Africa's key African trading partners included Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, collectively contributing to 51% of its intra-African merchandise trade.
According to the latest available data from WTO, in 2022, South Africa exported products for USD 122.9 billion, while it imported USD 136.2 billion of goods. The country imported services for a total value of USD 17.8 billion, whereas its exports in the same year reached USD 12.3 billion. The overall trade balance was estimated to be positive by 2% of GDP in 2022 (World Bank). According to the South African Reserve Bank, in Q3 2023, South Africa's trade surplus with the world widened to ZAR 189 billion, driven by a significant drop in merchandise imports compared to exports, including net gold exports. The terms of trade worsened as import prices rose and export prices fell due to declining global commodity prices. Despite increases in manufacturing and agricultural exports, overall merchandise exports dropped by 3%, mainly due to a decline in non-gold mining exports. Merchandise imports decreased by 9.5%, reversing 12 consecutive quarters of increases.
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 54.6 | 54.1 | 50.8 | 56.2 | 64.9 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | 1,870 | 2,487 | 17,667 | 30,484 | 14,039 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | 1,986 | 1,939 | 15,020 | 26,014 | 8,516 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 3.2 | 0.4 | -17.4 | 9.5 | 14.2 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 2.7 | -3.4 | -11.9 | 10.0 | 7.5 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 27.1 | 26.8 | 23.2 | 25.0 | 31.5 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 27.6 | 27.3 | 27.6 | 31.2 | 33.4 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2023 | 2024 (e) | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
China | 11.3% |
United States | 7.5% |
Germany | 6.8% |
Mozambique | 5.6% |
Japan | 5.2% |
United Kingdom | 4.8% |
India | 4.6% |
Netherlands | 3.9% |
Botswana | 3.8% |
Belgium | 3.4% |
Zimbabwe | 3.1% |
Namibia | 3.0% |
Zambia | 2.5% |
United Arab Emirates | 2.3% |
South Korea | 1.9% |
Eswatini | 1.5% |
Spain | 1.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo | 1.4% |
Hong Kong SAR, China | 1.3% |
Lesotho | 1.2% |
See More Countries | 63.6% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
China | 20.5% |
United States | 8.6% |
Germany | 8.1% |
India | 7.0% |
United Arab Emirates | 3.7% |
Thailand | 3.3% |
Saudi Arabia | 2.9% |
Japan | 2.5% |
Oman | 2.4% |
Italy | 2.2% |
Nigeria | 2.2% |
France | 2.0% |
United Kingdom | 1.7% |
Spain | 1.6% |
Netherlands | 1.5% |
Bahrain | 1.4% |
Brazil | 1.3% |
Eswatini | 1.3% |
Poland | 1.2% |
Malaysia | 1.2% |
See More Countries | 52.1% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
12.6 bn USD of services exported in 2022 | |
37.71% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 31.38% |
OtherOther | 49.79% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 6.34% |
24.78% | |
12.49% | |
9.15% | |
7.51% | |
3.86% | |
1.81% | |
1.65% | |
0.95% | |
0.09% |
18.1 bn USD of services imported in 2022 | |
44.35% | |
19.43% | |
12.24% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 9.01% |
OtherOther | 43.40% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 3.24% |
9.46% | |
8.02% | |
2.67% | |
1.70% | |
1.34% | |
0.78% | |
0.02% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Vols fer algun comentari sobre aquest contingut? Escriu-nos.
© eexpand, Tots els drets reservats.
Actualitzacions: July 2024
Utilitzem cookies per assegurar la teva connexió i fer estadístiques sobre el nombre de visites. Per obtenir més informació sobre les cookies i saber com rebutjar-les, visita la nostra pàgina de política de cookies .
Aquesta finestra emergent et permet definir la teva preferència de cookies i decidir quin tipus de cookies vols permetre al teu dispositiu.