Automotive exports to Africa on the up

Automotive exports (vehicles and parts combined) to 40 countries on the continent earned South Africa R29.7 billion and accounted for 18% of the country’s total automotive exports in 2017, according to Automotive Industry Export Council (AIEC) executive manager Dr Norman Lamprecht.

The 2018 Automotive Export Manual (AEM), released last week, revealed that Namibia was South Africa’s biggest African export market in 2017, at R7.1 billion, followed by Botswana at R4.7 billon.

The 2018 AEM further pointed out that 2017 vehicle and component production – with the auto sector the largest manufacturing sector in the country – accounted for 30.1% of South Africa’s manufacturing output.

A total of 338 093 South African-produced vehicles, as well as a range of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, were exported to 149 countries in 2017, earning SA a total automotive export revenue of R164.9 billion.

CAPTION
The Durban ro-ro terminal.