South Africa – Africa trading relationship

Tralac has been monitoring the trading relationship between South Africa and Africa for several years. This brief provides a synopsis of the latest South Africa-Africa trade data and an evaluation of the South Africa-Africa trading relationship over the last eighteen years. The trade statistics have been updated for the period from January 1996 to December 2013 inclusive.

Synopsis:

• During the 2012/2013 period, the value of total trade between South Africa and Africa increased by approximately 7.2% from an approximate total of US$ 24.5 billion in 2012 to approximately US$ 26.3 billion in 2013. Over this reporting period South African imports from Africa decreased by approximately 1.4% whilst exports to Africa grew by approximately 13%. In value terms, imports decreased from US$ 10 billion to US$ 9.9 and exports increased from US$ 14.5 billion to US$ 16.4 billion in the years 2012 and 2013. This compares to a growth in exports of 5% and a growth in imports of 31% during 2011/2012.
• The top twenty products (HS4 level) imported by South Africa from Africa in 2013 accounted for approximately 89% of South Africa’s total imports from all African countries, while the top five import products accounted for 81% of total African imports for the year. This indicates that South Africa’s imports from African countries are highly concentrated. South Africa’s key imports from Africa in 2013 were mineral products (81.89%), textiles and clothing (4.22%), base metals (3.12%), food, beverages and tobacco (2.26%) and chemical products (1.65%).

• When considering exports, the top twenty products (HS4 level) South Africa exported to Africa in 2013 represented only 37% of the total South African exports to Africa. This is a clear indication of the diversity of South African export products into Africa. This is reinforced by the fact that the top five South African export products to Africa accounted for only 20% of total South African exports to Africa. The main export products are a mixture of primary as well as secondary products. These included machinery (18.72%), transport equipment (13.47%), mineral products (11.97%), base metals (11.7%) and chemical products (11.67%).

• When considering regional blocs, SADC was both the most important regional destination in terms of South Africa’s imports and exports. This is hardly surprising due to its proximity and the membership status of South Africa.

Find the complete synopsis here and read it in conjunction with the spreadsheet link provided by tralac: http://www.tralac.org/resources/our-resources/6364-south-africa-africa-trading-relationship.html