Sud-àfrica flag Sud-àfrica: Visió econòmica i política

Xifres de comerç exterior de Sud-àfrica

Foreign Trade in Figures

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 (9.7% of total exports, as the country produces 80% of the global output), coal (7.1%), iron ores (5.9%),  gold (5.7%), and motor vehicles (5.4%). The main imports are petroleum oils (18.7%), motor vehicles (4%), crude oil (3.8%), and telephones (3.1% - Comtrade for 2023).

South Africa's top exporting countries are China (11.3%), the United States (7.5%), Germany (6.8%), Mozambique (5.6%), and Japan (5.2%). One-fifth of imports come from China, followed by the U.S. (8.6%), Germany (8.1%), India (7%), and the UAE (3.7% - 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).

According to the South African Reserve Bank, the country's trade surplus narrowed from ZAR 179.5 billion in Q2 2024 to ZAR 177.0 billion in Q3 due to a sharper decline in exports than imports. Both volumes and prices of goods and services fell. The services, income, and current transfer deficit improved for the second consecutive quarter, narrowing from ZAR 254.7 billion to ZAR 247.8 billion, reducing its GDP ratio from 3.5% to 3.4%. South Africa's terms of trade (including gold) improved slightly in Q3 2024 as the rand price of imports fell more than exports.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 54.654.150.856.264.9
Trade Balance (million USD) 1,8702,48717,66730,48414,039
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) 1,9861,93915,02026,0148,516
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 3.20.4-17.49.514.2
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 2.7-3.4-11.910.07.5
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 27.126.823.225.031.5
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 27.627.327.631.233.4

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20242025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)2028 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 3.53.63.73.73.7
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 3.74.33.93.93.8

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
South Africa is a member of the following international economic organisations: African Union, WTO, G-20, G-24, G-77, ICC, IMF, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates South Africa click here. International organisation membership of South Africa is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by South Africa can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
China 11.3%
United States 7.5%
Germany 6.8%
Mozambique 5.6%
Japan 5.2%
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%
See More Countries 52.1%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

110.6 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Platinum, incl. palladium, rhodium, iridium,...Platinum, incl. palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium, unwrought or in semi-manufactured forms, or in powder form 9.7%
Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels...Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels manufactured from coal 7.1%
Iron ores and concentrates, incl. roasted iron...Iron ores and concentrates, incl. roasted iron pyrites 5.9%
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 5.7%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl....Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab 5.4%
See More Products 66.2%
107.1 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 14.2%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 4.5%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.8%
Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular...Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, incl. apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network [such as a local or wide area network]; parts thereof (excl. than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528) 3.1%
Electric accumulators, incl. separators therefor,...Electric accumulators, incl. separators therefor, whether or not square or rectangular; parts thereof (excl. spent and those of unhardened rubber or textiles) 1.9%
See More Products 72.6%

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.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

Return to top

Vols fer algun comentari sobre aquest contingut? Escriu-nos.

 

© eexpand, Tots els drets reservats.
Actualitzacions: February 2025

Return to top