Trade imbalance threatens export growth in Africa

CLIVE EMDON
SOUTH AFRICA’S trade imbalance in Africa is already a political issue and failure to address concerns could have a detrimental effect on the continued growth of our exports. It’s a message that comes through loud and clear in Standard Bank’s 2006 report titled
“South Africa’s Global Trade Dynamic” which names Africa as an increasingly important export destination for South Africa, with some 14% of total exports destined for the continent in 2005. South Africa’s exports to the SADC region are dominated by mineral products (20%), followed by machinery and mechanical appliances (about 15% of total exports to the region), base metals (14%) and chemical products (13%).