Foreign trade of South Africa

Last updated

Since the end of apartheid, foreign trade in South Africa has increased, following the lifting of several sanctions and boycotts which were imposed as a means of ending apartheid.

Contents

South Africa is the second largest producer of gold in Africa [1] and is the world's largest producer of chrome, manganese, platinum, vanadium and vermiculite, the second largest producer of ilmenite, palladium, rutile and zirconium. [2] It is also the world's third largest coal exporter. [3] Although, mining only accounts for 3% of the GDP, down from around 14% in the 1980s. [4] South Africa also has a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products.

Principal international trading partners of South Africa—besides other African countries—include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain. [5] Chief exports include corn, diamonds, fruits, gold, metals and minerals, sugar,coal, and wool. Machinery and transportation equipment make up more than one-third of the value of the country's imports. Other imports include chemicals, manufactured goods, and lots more, mainly found in other hot country mainly Spanish countries.

History

This bubble map shows the global distribution of South African exports in 2006 as a percentage of the top market (Japan - $6,234,170,000). 2006SouthAfrican exports.PNG
This bubble map shows the global distribution of South African exports in 2006 as a percentage of the top market (Japan - $6,234,170,000).

During apartheid, South Africa's foreign trade and investment were affected by sanctions and boycotts by other countries ideologically opposed to apartheid. In 1970, the United Nations Security Council, adopted resolution 282 imposing a voluntary arms embargo upon South Africa, which was extended by subsequent resolutions 418 and 591, declaring the embargo mandatory. In 1978, South Africa was prohibited loans from the Export-Import Bank of the United States which was later followed by a prohibition on IMF loans in 1983. An oil embargo was imposed by OPEC in 1983 which was strengthened by Iran in 1979.

Imports and exports

Value of South Africa's balance of trade [6]

South Africa's main export trading partners are the European Union, the United States, Japan. China's share in exports is increasing, and has risen from 1.7% in 1994 to nearly 11% in 2007.[ citation needed ]

A tree graph illustrating the percentage distribution of product exports from South Africa. A total of US$ 109 billion worth of products were exported in 2019. South Africa Product Exports (2019).svg
A tree graph illustrating the percentage distribution of product exports from South Africa. A total of US$ 109 billion worth of products were exported in 2019.
Top ten export markets in 2021 [7]
CountryValue (billion of Rands)Value in US$ (billion of Dollars)Percentage of total exports
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
R 199.97
$ 13.31 [8]
11.79%
Flag of the United States.svg United States
R 193.00
$ 12.87
11.37%
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
R 155.05
$ 10.34
9.14%
Flag of Japan.svg Japan
R 121.45
$ 8.09
7.16%
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
R 120.85
$ 8.06
7.12%
Flag of Botswana.svg Botswana
R 64.47
$ 4.29
3.8%
Flag of Mozambique.svg Mozambique
R 63.92
$ 4.26
3.77%
Flag of India.svg India
R 61.38
$ 4.09
3.62%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
R 61.31
$ 4.09
3.61%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
R 52.31
$ 3.49
3.08%
Top ten import source countries in 2021 [7]
CountryValue (billions of Rands)Value in US$ (billions of Dollars)Percentage of total imports
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China
R 283.97
$ 18.93 [8]
11.79%
Flag of Germany.svg Germany
R 111.46
$ 7.43
11.37%
Flag of the United States.svg United States
R 96.86
$ 6.46
9.14%
Flag of India.svg India
R 78.92
$ 5.26
7.16%
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia
R 60.61
$ 4.04
7.12%
Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand
R 43.92
$ 2.93
3.8%
Flag of Japan.svg Japan
R 38.44
$ 2.56
3.77%
Flag of Italy.svg Italy
R 38.08
$ 2.54
3.62%
Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
R 33.09
$ 2.21
3.61%
Flag of France.svg France
R 29.03
$ 1.93
3.08%

African trade

Almost 90% of South Africa's exports to the rest of Africa go to the SADC economies. In 2018, South Africa exported and imported goods to and from the rest of Africa to the value of US$25 billion and US$11.5 billion, respectively. Intra-Africa exports account for 26% of South Africa's total exports and imports for 12% of total imports for 2018. South African exports to the rest of Africa are predominantly of value-added goods. In terms of South Africa's total trade (exports + imports) with the rest of the continent; Namibia (13%), Botswana (12%), Nigeria (12%) and Mozambique (12%) are South Africa's main African trading partners. [9]

Trade agreements

The following includes a list of existing trade agreements signed by South Africa: [10]

Regional agreements

Multilateral agreements

Bilateral agreements

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Botswana</span>

The economy of Botswana is currently one of the world's fastest growing economies, averaging about 5% per annum over the past decade. Growth in private sector employment averaged about 10% per annum during the first 30 years of the country's independence. After a period of stagnation at the turn of the 21st century, Botswana's economy registered strong levels of growth, with GDP growth exceeding 6–7% targets. Botswana has been praised by the African Development Bank for sustaining one of the world's longest economic booms. Economic growth since the late 1960s has been on par with some of Asia's largest economies. The government has consistently maintained budget surpluses and has extensive foreign-exchange reserves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Free Trade Association</span> Regional trade organization and free trade area

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The organization operates in parallel with the European Union (EU), and all four member states participate in the European Single Market and are part of the Schengen Area. They are not, however, party to the European Union Customs Union.

The economy of Namibia has a modern market sector, which produces most of the country's wealth, and a traditional subsistence sector. Although the majority of the population engages in subsistence agriculture and herding, Namibia has more than 200,000 skilled workers and a considerable number of well-trained professionals and managerials.

The economy of Eswatini is fairly diversified. Agriculture, forestry and mining account for about 13 percent of Eswatini's GDP whereas manufacturing represent 37 percent of GDP. Services – with government services in the lead – constitute the other 50 percent of GDP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern African Development Community</span> Inter-governmental organization

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern African Customs Union</span> Customs union of five countries in Southern Africa

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. Its headquarters are in the Namibian capital, Windhoek. It was established in 1910.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economic Partnership Agreements</span> Economic agreements between the EU and other countries

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are a scheme to create a free trade area (FTA) between the European Union and other countries. They are a response to continuing criticism that the non-reciprocal and discriminating preferential trade agreements offered by the EU are incompatible with WTO rules. The EPAs date back to the signing of the Cotonou Agreement. The EPAs with the different regions are at different states of play. The EU has signed EPAs with the following countries: the Southern African Development Community (SADC), ECOWAS, six countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, Cameroon, four Pacific states, and the CARIFORUM states. Their defining characteristic is that they open up exports to the EU immediately, while exports to the partner regions is opened up only partially and over transitioning periods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazil–South Africa relations</span> Bilateral relations

Brazil–South Africa relations are the bilateral relations between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa. Both nations are members of the BRICS, Cairns Group, G20, Group of 24, Group of 77 and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economic union</span> Trading bloc with no internal barriers and common policies on regulation and trade

An economic union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a common market with a customs union. The participant countries have both common policies on product regulation, freedom of movement of goods, services and the factors of production as well as a common external trade policy. When an economic union involves unifying currency, it becomes an economic and monetary union.

Integration is a political and economic agreement among countries that gives preference to member countries to the agreement. General integration can be achieved in three different approachable ways: through the World Trade Organization (WTO), bilateral integration, and regional integration. In bilateral integration, only two countries economically cooperate with one another, whereas in regional integration, several countries within the same geographic distance become joint to form organizations such as the European Union (EU) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Indeed, factors of mobility like capital, technology and labour are indicating strategies for cross-national integration along with those mentioned above.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercosur</span> South American economic agreement

The Southern Common Market, commonly known by Spanish abbreviation Mercosur, and Portuguese Mercosul, is a South American trade bloc established by the Treaty of Asunción in 1991 and Protocol of Ouro Preto in 1994. Its full members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela is a full member but has been suspended since 1 December 2016. Associate countries are Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries</span> Preferential trade agreement signed in 1988 by 42 developing countries


The Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries(G.S.T.P) is a preferential trade agreement, currently encompassing 42 members (“participants”), signed on 13 April 1988 with the aim of increasing trade between developing countries. It was negotiated within the framework of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Agreement entered into force on 19 April 1989 and was notified to the then General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), predecessor of the World Trade Organization (WTO), on 25 September 1989. The 42 members of GSTP include 7 LDCs as well.

The United States imposes tariffs on imports of goods. The duty is levied at the time of import and is paid by the importer of record. Customs duties vary by country of origin and product. Goods from many countries are exempt from duty under various trade agreements. Certain types of goods are exempt from duty regardless of source. Customs rules differ from other import restrictions. Failure to properly comply with customs rules can result in seizure of goods and criminal penalties against involved parties. The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces customs rules.

In 2012, South Africa imposed anti-dumping duties on Brazilian imports of frozen poultry products. Brazil brought its case to the World Trade Organization, and South Africa chose to impose a general tariff on chicken imports, rather than anti-dumping duties against Brazilian importers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African Continental Free Trade Area</span> Free trade area founded in 2018 with trade commencing as of 1 January 2021

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a free trade area encompassing most of Africa. It was established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which has 43 parties and another 11 signatories, making it the largest free-trade area by number of member states, after the World Trade Organization, and the largest in population and geographic size, spanning 1.3 billion people across the world's second largest continent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Science and Technology Park</span> Swazi state-owned research and development enterprise.

The Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) is a Swazi public enterprise and science park created to foster the conception of inventions and facilitate their patenting and help knit various elements of the R&D cluster together. It is intended to provide a focal point for research, facilitate the links between research and industrial communities and stimulate the development of knowledge-based businesses by incubating techno-partnership and high-tech enterprises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trade Agreement between Southern African Customs Union and European Free Trade Association</span>

The Trade Agreement between Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a Free trade agreement signed by both parties in 2006 in Höfn, Iceland and entered into force on 1 May 2008. It involves 9 countries: 4 are members of EFTA and 5 are members of SACU. The goal of the agreement is to deepen the relations between parties, provide favorable conditions for trade, and encourage economic integration and social development in SACU member states with support from EFTA.

The Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) is a customs union and trading bloc comprising the countries Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique. Its predecessor is the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). SACUM was created after Mozambique entered into the Southern African Customs Union.

References

  1. "Ghana beats South Africa to continent's gold production crown | Automation & AI | Mining Global". www.miningglobal.com. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. Mineral Commodity summaries
  3. South Africa looks bright
  4. South Africa, Jobless growth – The Economist
  5. "South Africa". The World Factbook. CIA.
  6. "Trade Balance Graph for 2014 – 2022". South African Revenue Service . Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Cumulative Bilateral Trade by Country 2021" . Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Rand/US$ exchange value in 2022" . Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  9. Tralac Center (June 2018). "South Africa: Intra-Africa trade and tariff profile". Tralac . Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  10. "South Africa - Country Commercial Guide". International Trade Administration. 11 September 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Trade Agreements | South African Revenue Service". 3 February 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  12. "South Africa-UK trade: comparing January-October 2019 and 2020 - tralac trade law centre". www.tralac.org. Retrieved 26 April 2022.

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-africa/