Merchandise exports in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise exports was 116.40 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
116.40 billion current US$
Change on year
up 5.7%
World rank
37th
of 206 countries
All-time high
123.57 billion current US$
in 2021
All-time low
1.99 billion current US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Merchandise exports in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 116.40 billion current US$ for merchandise exports in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 43.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports in South Africa peaked at 123.57 billion current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.99 billion current US$, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 37th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.99 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 2.14 billion current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1962 | 2.22 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 2.36 billion current US$ | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 2.48 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 2.55 billion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 2.74 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1967 | 3.01 billion current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1968 | 3.20 billion current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 3.36 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 3.34 billion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 3.48 billion current US$ | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 4.11 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 1973 | 6.06 billion current US$ | +47.6% |
| 1974 | 8.69 billion current US$ | +43.3% |
| 1975 | 8.79 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 7.85 billion current US$ | -10.7% |
| 1977 | 9.90 billion current US$ | +26.2% |
| 1978 | 12.77 billion current US$ | +29.0% |
| 1979 | 18.26 billion current US$ | +43.0% |
| 1980 | 25.52 billion current US$ | +39.8% |
| 1981 | 20.66 billion current US$ | -19.1% |
| 1982 | 17.67 billion current US$ | -14.4% |
| 1983 | 18.51 billion current US$ | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 17.16 billion current US$ | -7.3% |
| 1985 | 16.29 billion current US$ | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 18.39 billion current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1987 | 21.22 billion current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1988 | 21.87 billion current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 22.19 billion current US$ | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 23.55 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 23.28 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 23.44 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 24.22 billion current US$ | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 25.31 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 27.85 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1996 | 29.22 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 31.03 billion current US$ | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 26.36 billion current US$ | -15.0% |
| 1999 | 26.71 billion current US$ | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 29.98 billion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2001 | 29.26 billion current US$ | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 29.72 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 36.48 billion current US$ | +22.7% |
| 2004 | 46.15 billion current US$ | +26.5% |
| 2005 | 51.63 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 2006 | 58.17 billion current US$ | +12.7% |
| 2007 | 69.78 billion current US$ | +20.0% |
| 2008 | 80.78 billion current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2009 | 61.68 billion current US$ | -23.7% |
| 2010 | 91.35 billion current US$ | +48.1% |
| 2011 | 108.81 billion current US$ | +19.1% |
| 2012 | 99.61 billion current US$ | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 96.15 billion current US$ | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 93.04 billion current US$ | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 81.00 billion current US$ | -12.9% |
| 2016 | 76.21 billion current US$ | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 88.95 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 2018 | 93.97 billion current US$ | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 90.02 billion current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 85.83 billion current US$ | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 123.57 billion current US$ | +44.0% |
| 2022 | 122.90 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 110.86 billion current US$ | -9.8% |
| 2024 | 110.08 billion current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 116.40 billion current US$ | +5.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 116.40 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.59 billion current US$, 9.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 116.40 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.99 billion current US$, 29.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.60 billion current US$ | 1.99 billion current US$ | 3.36 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.33 billion current US$ | 3.34 billion current US$ | 18.26 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.95 billion current US$ | 16.29 billion current US$ | 25.52 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.10 billion current US$ | 23.28 billion current US$ | 31.03 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.36 billion current US$ | 29.26 billion current US$ | 80.78 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.91 billion current US$ | 76.21 billion current US$ | 108.81 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 111.61 billion current US$ | 85.83 billion current US$ | 123.57 billion current US$ | 6 |
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 (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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 1,978 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports in South Africa?
- Merchandise exports in South Africa was 116.40 billion current US$ in 2025, according to World Trade Organization (WTO).
- What is the highest merchandise exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 123.57 billion current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.99 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise exports?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Trade Organization (WTO), published as part of Merchandise exports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Merchandise exports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a resident to a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.