Room for SA to diversify exports

While South Africa’s trade with China and India has reached “substantial levels”, the export baskets destined for these two Asian destinations are highly concentrated and dominated by a few mineral commodities, principally iron ores and concentrates and coal products. There are however expansion opportunities for exports to these countries, as identified by the ‘BRICS trade performance – focusing on South Africa’ report published earlier this year by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). South Africanproduced motor vehicles have started making inroads into the rapidly growing Chinese market, according to the report. It notes that car exports to China were valued at US$217 m, US$276 m and US$103 m over the past three years, respectively, representing 1% of the export basket in 2012.