South Africa’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries

/ By Country / By

The Republic of South Africa imported US$68.7 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -22.1% from $88.2 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of South Africa’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to South Africa’s most valuable imports during 2020 for each of South Africa’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about three-fifths (59.5%) of South Africa’s import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for South African imports and each of the top supplier countries.

South Africa’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to South Africa amounted to $14.3 billion or 20.8% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.6% of South Africa’s imports from the People’s Republic.

  1. Electronic equipment: $3.7 billion
  2. Machinery: $3 billion
  3. Other textiles, worn clothing: $535.8 million
  4. Organic chemicals: $482 million
  5. Vehicles: $427.7 million
  6. Footwear: $399.1 million
  7. Plastics: $387 million
  8. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $381.1 million
  9. Medical, technical equipment: $361.2 million
  10. Iron or steel products: $351.3 million
  11. Knit or crochet clothing: $351.2 million
  12. Furniture, lighting, signs: $285.5 million
  13. Iron and steel: $275.9 million
  14. Rubber: $256.3 million
  15. Other chemical goods: $209.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 491.6% gain in revenue, then medical or technical equipment (up 16.7%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 14.6%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were furniture, lighting and signs (down -26.2%), footwear (down -24.5%), products made from iron or steel (down -20.8%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -18.9%), plastics as a material (down -17.5%) and iron and steel as materials (down -16.1%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to South Africa amounted to $6.3 billion or 9.1% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -28.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 61.2% of South Africa’s imports from Germany.

  1. Machinery: $1.1 billion
  2. Vehicles: $828.6 million
  3. Pharmaceuticals: $277.4 million
  4. Electronic equipment: $252.7 million
  5. Plastics: $234.2 million
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $233.1 million
  7. Other chemical goods: $174.7 million
  8. Gems, precious metals: $146.5 million
  9. Paper: $145.6 million
  10. Organic chemicals: $97.3 million
  11. Perfumes, cosmetics: $78.8 million
  12. Iron or steel products: $77.6 million
  13. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $72.5 million
  14. Iron and steel: $71.8 million
  15. Rubber: $61.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from Germany under the gems and precious metals product category via a 69.4% gain in revenue, trailed by miscellaneous chemical goods (up 2%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -50.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -38.7%), rubber (down -36.5%), electronic equipment (down -34.4%), medical or technical equipment (down -26.7%) then tanning and dyeing extracts (down -25.1%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to South Africa amounted to $4.4 billion or 6% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -23.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.1% of South Africa’s imports from the US.

  1. Machinery: $894.8 million
  2. Medical, technical equipment: $388.5 million
  3. Other chemical goods: $339.9 million
  4. Vehicles: $298.8 million
  5. Electronic equipment: $239.1 million
  6. Inorganic chemicals: $227.8 million
  7. Pharmaceuticals: $212 million
  8. Mineral fuels including oil: $207.4 million
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $184.4 million
  10. Plastics: $141 million
  11. Rubber: $94.9 million
  12. Organic chemicals: $69.9 million
  13. Meat: $69.4 million
  14. Perfumes, cosmetics: $65.9 million
  15. Ceramic products: $64 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from United States under the inorganic chemicals product category via a 86% gain in revenue and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 16.5%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -69.1%), mineral fuels including oil (down -37.4%), vehicles (down -26.7%), machinery (down -25.6%), meat (down -24%) and medical or technical equipment (down -19.7%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to South Africa amounted to $3.6 billion or 5.2% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -17.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.7% of South Africa’s imports from India.

  1. Vehicles: $626.2 million
  2. Pharmaceuticals: $598.3 million
  3. Mineral fuels including oil: $593.6 million
  4. Electronic equipment: $267.9 million
  5. Machinery: $201.5 million
  6. Organic chemicals: $168.4 million
  7. Cereals: $155.8 million
  8. Plastics: $75.3 million
  9. Other chemical goods: $55.9 million
  10. Perfumes, cosmetics: $54.3 million
  11. Iron or steel products: $46.1 million
  12. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $43.1 million
  13. Rubber: $35.6 million
  14. Knit or crochet clothing: $33.7 million
  15. Iron and steel: $32.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from India under the cereals product category via a 46.6% gain in revenue, organic chemicals (up 26.1%) and pharmaceuticals (up 22.3%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -32.3%), mineral fuels including oil (down -30.6%), products made from iron or steel (down -28.2%), machinery (down -28%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -27.3%) then electronic equipment (down -21.4%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from Saudi

In 2020, Saudi Arabia’s exports to South Africa amounted to $2.7 billion or 3.9% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -26.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.8% of South Africa’s imports from Saudi Arabia.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $2.3 billion
  2. Fertilizers: $144.9 million
  3. Plastics: $124.2 million
  4. Organic chemicals: $64.8 million
  5. Aluminum: $21.2 million
  6. Other chemical goods: $21.2 million
  7. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $14.8 million
  8. Copper: $6.8 million
  9. Paper: $2.9 million
  10. Ships, boats: $2.9 million
  11. Rubber: $2.1 million
  12. Glass: $1.54 million
  13. Fish: $1.53 million
  14. Modified starches, enzymes: $801,000
  15. Fruits, nuts: $770,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from Saudi Arabia under the ships and boats product category via a 3,326% gain in revenue, copper (up 611.1%), fertilizers (up 81.7%) then salt, sulphur, stone and cement (up 18.4%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were rubber (down -48.3%), organic chemicals (down -45.4%), aluminum (down -41.7%), fish (down -39.6%), modified starches and enzymes (down -29.3%) then mineral fuels including oil (down -29.2%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from Nigeria

In 2020, Nigeria’s exports to South Africa amounted to $2.2 billion or 3.1% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -38.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.97% of South Africa’s imports from Nigeria.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $2.1 billion
  2. Rubber: $3.7 million
  3. Coffee, tea, spices: $3.1 million
  4. Copper: $2.2 million
  5. Soaps, lubricants, candles: $1 million
  6. Oil seed: $660,000
  7. Ores, slag, ash: $450,000
  8. Cereal, milk preparations: $358,000
  9. Vegetables: $318,000
  10. Electronic equipment: $243,000
  11. Beverages: $205,000
  12. Machinery: $166,000
  13. Medical, technical equipment: $139,000
  14. Feathers, artificial flowers, hair: $113,000
  15. Perfumes, cosmetics: $78,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from Nigeria under the soaps, lubricants and candles product category via a 2,165% gain in revenue, then ores, slag and ash (up 922.7%), coffee, tea and spices (up 233.6%), cereal or milk preparations (up 173.3%), oil seed (up 166.1%) and perfumes or cosmetics (up 69.6%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were feathers, artificial flowers and hair (down -75.9%), machinery (down -68.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -38.7%), vegetables (down -31%), rubber (down -30.6%) and beverages (down -7.2%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to South Africa amounted to $2.1 billion or 3.1% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -19.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 50.1% of South Africa’s imports from Thailand.

  1. Cereals: $335 million
  2. Machinery: $169.5 million
  3. Vehicles: $145.2 million
  4. Electronic equipment: $87.4 million
  5. Meat, seafood preparations: $61 million
  6. Rubber: $60.1 million
  7. Plastics: $47.4 million
  8. Organic chemicals: $44.7 million
  9. Aluminum: $24.1 million
  10. Iron or steel products: $22.3 million
  11. Medical, technical equipment: $21.8 million
  12. Furniture, lighting, signs: $21.7 million
  13. Modified starches, enzymes: $11.6 million
  14. Iron and steel: $10.9 million
  15. Other chemical goods: $9.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from Thailand under the iron and steel as materials product category via a 92.7% gain in revenue, then aluminum (up 58.9%) and cereals (up 4.9%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -48.6%), meat or seafood preparations (down -37.3%), plastics as a material (down -33%), organic chemicals (down -26.1%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -14.6%) and electronic equipment (down -14.1%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to South Africa amounted to $1.9 billion or 2.8% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -31.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 69.9% of South Africa’s imports from Japan.

  1. Vehicles: $451 million
  2. Machinery: $395.2 million
  3. Electronic equipment: $101.5 million
  4. Medical, technical equipment: $70.4 million
  5. Rubber: $64.9 million
  6. Other chemical goods: $52 million
  7. Iron and steel: $48.6 million
  8. Plastics: $31.8 million
  9. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $22.3 million
  10. Stone, plaster, cement: $22.2 million
  11. Organic chemicals: $21.7 million
  12. Pharmaceuticals: $17.8 million
  13. Iron or steel products: $13.8 million
  14. Photo/cinematographic goods: $10.5 million
  15. Inorganic chemicals: $10.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for South African imports from Japan under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 67.5% gain in revenue then organic chemicals (up 22.5%).

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were inorganic chemicals (down -48.9%), pharmaceuticals (down -44%), vehicles (down -38.1%), photo or cinematographic goods (down -36.8%), machinery (down -34%) and rubber (down -33.4%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to South Africa amounted to $1.8 billion or 2.6% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -21.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.6% of South Africa’s imports from Italy.

  1. Machinery: $448.2 million
  2. Electronic equipment: $148.8 million
  3. Pharmaceuticals: $133.9 million
  4. Vehicles: $114.9 million
  5. Mineral fuels including oil: $98.5 million
  6. Plastics: $81.3 million
  7. Medical, technical equipment: $50.9 million
  8. Other chemical goods: $43.4 million
  9. Iron or steel products: $42.5 million
  10. Footwear: $37.9 million
  11. Paper: $37.7 million
  12. Perfumes, cosmetics: $35 million
  13. Rubber: $28.9 million
  14. Other food preparations: $23.1 million
  15. Vegetable/fruit preparations: $22.5 million

The fastest increase from 2019 to 2020 was for South African imports from Italy under the miscellaneous food preparations product category via a 0.2% gain in revenue.

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -56%), rubber (down -30.8%), medical or technical equipment (down -25.9%), machinery (down -25.7%), products made from iron or steel (down -21.7%) and paper (down -21%).

South Africa’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, United Kingdom’s exports to South Africa amounted to $1.7 billion or 2.5% of overall South African imports.

That dollar amount represents a -41% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.5% of South Africa’s imports from the United Kingdom.

  1. Books, newspapers, pictures: $295.6 million
  2. Machinery: $238 million
  3. Vehicles: $172 million
  4. Beverages: $104.2 million
  5. Electronic equipment: $102.8 million
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $82.3 million
  7. Pharmaceuticals: $70.9 million
  8. Other chemical goods: $58.4 million
  9. Plastics: $56.9 million
  10. Mineral fuels including oil: $38.6 million
  11. Iron and steel: $29.5 million
  12. Perfumes, cosmetics: $29.1 million
  13. Soaps, lubricants, candles: $25.3 million
  14. Iron or steel products: $20.3 million
  15. Organic chemicals: $20.1 million

The lone increase from 2019 to 2020 was for South African imports from the United Kingdom under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 70.6% gain in revenue.

Posting the severest declines among South Africa’s top 15 imported products were books, newspapers and pictures (down -67.1%), beverages (down -40.4%), vehicles (down -40%), machinery (down -37.1%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -35.2%) and plastics as a material (down -23.9%).

See also

More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, US Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, South Africa’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, South Africa, Borders crossings of South Africa.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

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