Import statistics compiled
by the International Trade
Centre show where South
Africa is shopping – and
what the country is buying.
The biggest supplier by
far is China, with a 15.5%
market share. Next highest
is Germany, with a 10%
share.
Overall the top five
exporters to South Africa
– China, Germany, Saudi
Arabia, United States
of America and India –
accounted for 43% of total
imports.
The remaining trade
partners hold shares of less
than 3%.
No African countries
are listed in the top 26
suppliers to South Africa.
As can be expected, oil
made up the biggest single
percentage of imports,
followed by machines,
electronic equipment,
vehicles and plastics.
Interestingly, the top
exporter of vehicles to
South Africa was the US
(US$923.6 m), followed by
Japan on US$836.8 m.
According to the United
States Department of
Commerce, US vehicle
exporters sold 9 351
passenger cars and light
delivery vehicles to South
Africa in 2014, making it
the US’s 20th top vehicle
market in terms of value.
US automotive part
exports to South Africa
have been growing steadily
since 2009.
Looking at the fastestgrowing
imports, the
category was led by
unwrought zinc, zinc bars,
rods and wire.
Sunf lower seeds and soya
seeds were the secondfastest
growing category
in 2014.
Locomotive purchases as
part of South Africa’s rail
recapitalisation put railway
equipment in third place.
Soda or sulphate chemical
wood pulp used in paper
making also showed
significant growth.
Top five SA
imports
1. Oil: US23.3 billion
or 23.3% of imports
2. Machines, engines,
pumps: US13.3bn or
13.3% of imports
3. Electronic
equipment:
US$9.7bn or 9.7% of
imports
4. Vehicles: US$8.2bn
or 8.2% of imports.
5. Plastics: US2.6bn or
2.6% of imports
Fastestgrowing
SA
imports 2014
1. Zinc: Up 415.5%
from 2010
(US$160.2 million)
2. Oil seed: Up 145.7%
(US$210.8 m)
3. Railway, tram
equipment: Up 138%
(US$312.3m)
4. Wood pulp: Up
93.4% (US$118.6 m)
5. Other manufactured
products: Up 83.7%
(US$310.6 m)
Top 5 SA
imports from
China
China’s imports in 2014
were valued at US$15.4bn
or 15.5% of SA’s overall
imports.
1. Electronic
equipment: U$3.8bn
2. Machines, engines,
pumps: US$3.3bn
3. Footwear:
US$621.1m
4. Plastics: US$495.4m
5. Knit or crochet
clothing: US$478.3m
(this is also South
Africa’s sixth-fastestgrowing
import
category).
Top 5 imports
from Germany
German exports
to South Africa
amounted to $10bn or
10% of imports.
1. Vehicles: US$2.1bn
2. Machines, engines,
pumps: US$1.7bn
3. Electronic
equipment:
US$614.2m
4. Plastics: US$329.7m
5. Medical, technical
equipment:
US$328.4m
Top 5 imports from
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s
exports to South
Africa amounted to
$7.1bn or 7.1% of imports.
1. Oil: US$6.6bn
2. Organic chemicals:
US$199.3m
3. Plastics: US$137.2m
4. Fertilisers:
US$85.1m
5. Other chemical
goods: US$36.7m
Top 5 SA imports
from the United
States of
America
US exports to South
Africa amounted to
$6.6bn or 6.6% of SA’s
overall imports.
1. Machines, engines,
pumps: $1.6bn
2. Vehicles: $923.6m
3. Aircraft, spacecraft:
$562.8m
4. Medical, technical
equipment: $510.5m
5. Electronic
equipment:
$479.3m
Top 5 SA imports
from India
India’s exports
to South Africa
amounted to US$4.6bn
or 4.6% of SA imports.
1. Oil: US$1.6bn
2. Vehicles: US$876m
3. Pharmaceuticals:
US$334.3m
4. Machines, engines,
pumps: US$179.3m
5. Organic chemicals:
US$151.4m
Top 5 imports from
Japan
Japan’s exports
to South Africa
amounted to $3.8bn or
3.8% of imports.
1. Vehicles:
US$836.8m
2. Machines, engines,
pumps: US$756.1m
3. Electronic
equipment:
US$159.8m
4. Rubber: US$134.4m
5. Medical, technical
equipment:
US$103.3m
Top 5 SA
imports from
the United
Kingdom
Imports from the UK
amounted to US$3.3bn,
or 3.3% of imports
1. Machines, engines,
pumps: US$591.1m
2. Vehicles:
US$452.5m
3. Oil: US$367.5m
4. Alcoholic beverages:
US$223.2m
5. Electronic
equipment:
US$177.3m
Next five
biggest
exporters to
SA:
1. Italy: US$2.6bn or
2.6% of its imports
2. Thailand: US$2.4bn
or 2.4% of imports
3. Spain: US$1.7bn or
1.7% of imports.
4. South Korea:
US$1.5bn or 1.5% of
its overall imports.
5. Brazil, Holland
(equal): US$1.4bn or
1.4% of imports.
