Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports by the reporting economy was 103.34 billion current US$ in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Africa is 103.34 billion current US$, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 11.7% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Africa peaked at 117.06 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 19.12 billion current US$, in 1998.
South Africa ranks 38th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 19.12 billion current US$ | — |
| 1999 | 20.74 billion current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 21.67 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 21.36 billion current US$ | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 22.41 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 30.89 billion current US$ | +37.8% |
| 2004 | 39.63 billion current US$ | +28.3% |
| 2005 | 46.55 billion current US$ | +17.5% |
| 2006 | 52.40 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 2007 | 63.43 billion current US$ | +21.0% |
| 2008 | 72.97 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 2009 | 54.38 billion current US$ | -25.5% |
| 2010 | 82.74 billion current US$ | +52.2% |
| 2011 | 97.86 billion current US$ | +18.3% |
| 2012 | 89.86 billion current US$ | -8.2% |
| 2013 | 88.69 billion current US$ | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 85.72 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 75.00 billion current US$ | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 70.56 billion current US$ | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 82.91 billion current US$ | +17.5% |
| 2018 | 87.73 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 84.21 billion current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 78.10 billion current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 114.28 billion current US$ | +46.3% |
| 2022 | 117.06 billion current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 103.34 billion current US$ | -11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.93 billion current US$ | 19.12 billion current US$ | 20.74 billion current US$ | 2 |
| 2000s | 42.57 billion current US$ | 21.36 billion current US$ | 72.97 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.53 billion current US$ | 70.56 billion current US$ | 97.86 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 103.20 billion current US$ | 78.10 billion current US$ | 117.06 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More private sector data for South Africa
- Merchandise trade 57.2% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 128.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in South Africa was 103.34 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 117.06 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.12 billion current US$ in 1998.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports by the reporting economy?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports by the reporting economy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current US$.