Merchandise imports in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise imports was 128.08 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 128.08 billion current US$ for merchandise imports in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports in South Africa peaked at 136.21 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.46 billion current US$, in 1961.
South Africa ranks 37th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.63 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.46 billion current US$ | -10.4% |
| 1962 | 1.48 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 1.77 billion current US$ | +20.0% |
| 1964 | 2.28 billion current US$ | +28.8% |
| 1965 | 2.56 billion current US$ | +12.4% |
| 1966 | 2.40 billion current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1967 | 2.78 billion current US$ | +16.1% |
| 1968 | 2.79 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 3.19 billion current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1970 | 3.84 billion current US$ | +20.5% |
| 1971 | 4.36 billion current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1972 | 3.95 billion current US$ | -9.5% |
| 1973 | 5.16 billion current US$ | +30.8% |
| 1974 | 7.86 billion current US$ | +52.2% |
| 1975 | 8.29 billion current US$ | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 7.29 billion current US$ | -12.2% |
| 1977 | 6.27 billion current US$ | -13.9% |
| 1978 | 7.62 billion current US$ | +21.5% |
| 1979 | 8.99 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 1980 | 19.60 billion current US$ | +118.0% |
| 1981 | 22.93 billion current US$ | +17.0% |
| 1982 | 18.41 billion current US$ | -19.7% |
| 1983 | 15.81 billion current US$ | -14.1% |
| 1984 | 15.96 billion current US$ | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 11.32 billion current US$ | -29.1% |
| 1986 | 12.99 billion current US$ | +14.8% |
| 1987 | 15.28 billion current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1988 | 18.72 billion current US$ | +22.6% |
| 1989 | 18.50 billion current US$ | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 18.40 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 18.83 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 19.74 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 19.99 billion current US$ | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 23.36 billion current US$ | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 30.55 billion current US$ | +30.7% |
| 1996 | 30.18 billion current US$ | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 33.00 billion current US$ | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 29.24 billion current US$ | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 26.70 billion current US$ | -8.7% |
| 2000 | 29.70 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 28.25 billion current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 29.27 billion current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 39.75 billion current US$ | +35.8% |
| 2004 | 53.47 billion current US$ | +34.5% |
| 2005 | 62.30 billion current US$ | +16.5% |
| 2006 | 78.72 billion current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2007 | 88.45 billion current US$ | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 101.64 billion current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 74.05 billion current US$ | -27.1% |
| 2010 | 96.83 billion current US$ | +30.8% |
| 2011 | 124.43 billion current US$ | +28.5% |
| 2012 | 127.15 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 126.33 billion current US$ | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 121.95 billion current US$ | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 104.65 billion current US$ | -14.2% |
| 2016 | 91.69 billion current US$ | -12.4% |
| 2017 | 101.58 billion current US$ | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 113.97 billion current US$ | +12.2% |
| 2019 | 107.54 billion current US$ | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 84.06 billion current US$ | -21.8% |
| 2021 | 113.99 billion current US$ | +35.6% |
| 2022 | 136.21 billion current US$ | +19.5% |
| 2023 | 130.75 billion current US$ | -4.0% |
| 2024 | 123.47 billion current US$ | -5.6% |
| 2025 | 128.08 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 128.08 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.19 billion current US$, 7.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 128.08 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.46 billion current US$, 23.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +118.0% | 8.99 billion current US$ | 19.60 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.23 billion current US$ | 1.46 billion current US$ | 3.19 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.36 billion current US$ | 3.84 billion current US$ | 8.99 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.95 billion current US$ | 11.32 billion current US$ | 22.93 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.00 billion current US$ | 18.40 billion current US$ | 33.00 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.56 billion current US$ | 28.25 billion current US$ | 101.64 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 111.61 billion current US$ | 91.69 billion current US$ | 127.15 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 119.43 billion current US$ | 84.06 billion current US$ | 136.21 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)
- 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$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 1,978 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports in South Africa?
- Merchandise imports in South Africa was 128.08 billion current US$ in 2025, according to World Trade Organization (WTO).
- What is the highest merchandise imports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 136.21 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.46 billion current US$ in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise imports?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 206 countries with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. 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 imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise imports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a non-resident to a 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.