Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 112.46 billion current US$ in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Africa, 1998–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Africa stood at 112.46 billion current US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Africa peaked at 116.36 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 26.18 billion current US$, in 1999.
South Africa ranks 39th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 28.76 billion current US$ | — |
| 1999 | 26.18 billion current US$ | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 28.18 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 2001 | 26.59 billion current US$ | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 27.40 billion current US$ | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 35.89 billion current US$ | +31.0% |
| 2004 | 49.81 billion current US$ | +38.8% |
| 2005 | 57.21 billion current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 71.98 billion current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2007 | 90.70 billion current US$ | +26.0% |
| 2008 | 95.91 billion current US$ | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 71.09 billion current US$ | -25.9% |
| 2010 | 87.01 billion current US$ | +22.4% |
| 2011 | 107.63 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 2012 | 109.52 billion current US$ | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 109.06 billion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 105.24 billion current US$ | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 90.01 billion current US$ | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 78.80 billion current US$ | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 87.43 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 97.81 billion current US$ | +11.9% |
| 2019 | 92.39 billion current US$ | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 72.17 billion current US$ | -21.9% |
| 2021 | 97.66 billion current US$ | +35.3% |
| 2022 | 116.36 billion current US$ | +19.2% |
| 2023 | 112.46 billion current US$ | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.47 billion current US$ | 26.18 billion current US$ | 28.76 billion current US$ | 2 |
| 2000s | 55.48 billion current US$ | 26.59 billion current US$ | 95.91 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.49 billion current US$ | 78.80 billion current US$ | 109.52 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.66 billion current US$ | 72.17 billion current US$ | 116.36 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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Africa was 112.46 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 116.36 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.18 billion current US$ in 1999.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. 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 imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise imports by the reporting economy from the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current U.S. dollars.