Trade with neighbouring countries on the rise

There has been a steady growth in the value of imports from South Africa’s neighbours, with the exception of Botswana and Zambia. The biggest rise has been Angola, which has become a major supplier of crude petroleum, with import value more than doubling between 2023 and 2024. Second-biggest was Namibia, with the biggest percentage growth being in animal or vegetable fats (45% from R2.2 million to R12m); followed by toys and sports apparel (111%, from R1.2m to 3.8m). Value-wise, the biggest growth was in precious metal, at R3.3bn to R15.7bn (R20%). The biggest drop in imports from Botswana was vegetables by R137m or 64% to R74m, and prepared foodstuffs by 50%, or R60m to R59m. In contrast, prepared foodstuff imports from Namibia grew by 26%, or R336m. Botswana placed a ban on the importation of vegetables from South Africa in late 2021. The phased lifting of the ban by the newly elected government of President Duma Boko started in December 2024. In July this year, South Africa was the fourth-largest market for Botswana exports at 9.2% of the total, according to Statistics Botswana. Top was the United Arab Emirates (29%), followed by Belgium (26%) and India (14%). A year before, South Africa was second, at 15% of the total, with the largest category being chemicals and rubber products. The other notable increase percentage-wise was Zimbabwe, at around 20%. Precious metal exports jumped by R414m, from R12m to R426m year-on-year. Imports of iron and steel products grew from R263m to R417m. One of the biggest drops was 34% in prepared foodstuffs, from R1.3bn to R807m. Vegetable imports were up by R34m to R310m. Earlier this year, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber told parliament that plans for structural and technological upgrades at Beitbridge (South Africa–Zimbabwe), Lebombo (South Africa– Mozambique), Oshoek (South Africa–Eswatini), Maseru and Ficksburg (bordering Lesotho), and Kopfontein (South Africa– Botswana) were well advanced. The estimated R7bn project will be executed through a 20-year PPP concession, which is in the process of being evaluated. ER