Since the end of apartheid, foreign trade in South Africa has increased, following the lifting of several sanctions and boycotts which were imposed as a means of ending apartheid.

South Africa is the second largest producer of gold in Africa[1] and is the world's largest producer of chrome, manganese, platinum, vanadium and vermiculite, the second largest producer of ilmenite, palladium, rutile and zirconium.[2] It is also the world's third largest coal exporter.[3] Although, mining only accounts for 3% of the GDP, down from around 14% in the 1980s.[4] South Africa also has a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products.

Principal international trading partners of South Africa—besides other African countries—include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain.[5] Chief exports include corn, diamonds, fruits, gold, metals and minerals, sugar,coal, and wool. Machinery and transportation equipment make up more than one-third of the value of the country's imports. Other imports include chemicals, manufactured goods, and lots more, mainly found in other hot country mainly Spanish countries.

History

This bubble map shows the global distribution of South African exports in 2006 as a percentage of the top market (Japan - $6,234,170,000).

During apartheid, South Africa's foreign trade and investment were affected by sanctions and boycotts by other countries ideologically opposed to apartheid. In 1970, the United Nations Security Council, adopted resolution 282 imposing a voluntary arms embargo upon South Africa, which was extended by subsequent resolutions 418 and 591, declaring the embargo mandatory. In 1978, South Africa was prohibited loans from the Export-Import Bank of the United States which was later followed by a prohibition on IMF loans in 1983. An oil embargo was imposed by OPEC in 1983 which was strengthened by Iran in 1979.

Imports and exports

Value of South Africa's balance of trade[6]

South Africa's main export trading partners are the European Union, the United States, Japan. China's share in exports is increasing, and has risen from 1.7% in 1994 to nearly 11% in 2007.

A tree graph illustrating the percentage distribution of product exports from South Africa. A total of US$ 109 billion worth of products were exported in 2019.
Top ten export markets in 2021[7]
CountryValue (billion of Rands)Value in US$ (billion of Dollars)Percentage of total exports
China China
R 199.97
$ 13.31[8]
11.79%
United States United States
R 193.00
$ 12.87
11.37%
Germany Germany
R 155.05
$ 10.34
9.14%
Japan Japan
R 121.45
$ 8.09
7.16%
United Kingdom United Kingdom
R 120.85
$ 8.06
7.12%
Botswana Botswana
R 64.47
$ 4.29
3.8%
Mozambique Mozambique
R 63.92
$ 4.26
3.77%
India India
R 61.38
$ 4.09
3.62%
Netherlands Netherlands
R 61.31
$ 4.09
3.61%
Belgium Belgium
R 52.31
$ 3.49
3.08%
Top ten import source countries in 2021[7]
CountryValue (billions of Rands)Value in US$ (billions of Dollars)Percentage of total imports
China China
R 283.97
$ 18.93[8]
11.79%
Germany Germany
R 111.46
$ 7.43
11.37%
United States United States
R 96.86
$ 6.46
9.14%
India India
R 78.92
$ 5.26
7.16%
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
R 60.61
$ 4.04
7.12%
Thailand Thailand
R 43.92
$ 2.93
3.8%
Japan Japan
R 38.44
$ 2.56
3.77%
Italy Italy
R 38.08
$ 2.54
3.62%
Nigeria Nigeria
R 33.09
$ 2.21
3.61%
France France
R 29.03
$ 1.93
3.08%

African trade

Almost 90% of South Africa's exports to the rest of Africa go to the SADC economies. In 2018, South Africa exported and imported goods to and from the rest of Africa to the value of US$25 billion and US$11.5 billion, respectively. Intra-Africa exports account for 26% of South Africa's total exports and imports for 12% of total imports for 2018. South African exports to the rest of Africa are predominantly of value-added goods. In terms of South Africa's total trade (exports + imports) with the rest of the continent; Namibia (13%), Botswana (12%), Nigeria (12%) and Mozambique (12%) are South Africa's main African trading partners.[9]

Trade agreements

The following includes a list of existing trade agreements signed by South Africa:[10]

Regional agreements

Multilateral agreements

Bilateral agreements

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ghana beats South Africa to continent's gold production crown | Automation & AI | Mining Global". www.miningglobal.com. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. ↑ Mineral Commodity summaries
  3. ↑ South Africa looks bright
  4. ↑ South Africa, Jobless growth – The Economist
  5. ↑ "South Africa". The World Factbook. CIA.
  6. ↑ "Trade Balance Graph for 2014 – 2022". South African Revenue Service. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Cumulative Bilateral Trade by Country 2021". Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Rand/US$ exchange value in 2022". Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Tralac Center (June 2018). "South Africa: Intra-Africa trade and tariff profile". Tralac. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  10. ↑ "South Africa - Country Commercial Guide". International Trade Administration. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Trade Agreements | South African Revenue Service". 3 February 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "South Africa-UK trade: comparing January-October 2019 and 2020 - tralac trade law centre". www.tralac.org. Retrieved 26 April 2022.

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-africa/

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