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We take a look at the trade statistics numbers for March 2020 released by the South African Revenue Service customs office. What has South Africa been importing and exporting in the month before the lockdown started in earnest? And where did our imports come from and exports go to?
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Summary of South Africa's Trade for March 2020
Top 5 countries South Africa exported to:
Top 5 countries South Africa exported to:
Trade Balance for March 2020: R 24,248,008 839
The image below shows South Africa's imports, exports and trade balance per month since the start of January 2010. And as the image shows the trade balance in March 2020 was the biggest positive trade balance over the course of this period.
- Germany (11.2%)
- China (8.2%)
- United States (6.7%)
- United Kingdom (4.4%)
- Botswana (4.2%)
Top 5 countries South Africa exported to:
- Germany (11.9%)
- China (11.4%)
- United States (6.8%)
- Saudi Arabia (5.7%)
- India (5.5%)
Trade Balance for March 2020: R 24,248,008 839
The image below shows South Africa's imports, exports and trade balance per month since the start of January 2010. And as the image shows the trade balance in March 2020 was the biggest positive trade balance over the course of this period.
South Africa's trade balance with the rest of the world since January 2010
Exports to Germany by product category in March 2020 sorted from highest to lowest:
- Vehicles and accessories:R 5 232 329 791.00
- Gold, Platinum, Diamonds, Jewellery and Precious Metals:R 4 722 482 609.00
- Ores:R 1 600 027 563.00
- Catalytic Converters, Computers and Mechanical Appliances:R 622 616 370.00
- Fruit and nuts:R 129 443 999.00
- Iron and Steel:R 102 096 463.00
- Beverages, spirits and vinegar:R 98 664 208.00
- Chemical Products:R 97 995 501.00
- Crude, Coal, Petroleum and Electricity:R 93 019 514.00
- Medical and Photographic Equipment:R 74 364 507.00
- Fruit Juices and Prepared vegetables, fruits and nuts:R 45 140 063.00
- Cellphones, Electrical Equipment and Machinery:R 36 633 507.00
- Aluminium and Articles Thereof:R 33 644 841.00
- Paper and paperboard:R 32 112 773.00
- Pulp of wood and other products:R 30 750 332.00
- Raw hides and skins:R 28 818 721.00
- Plastics and articles thereof:R 21 514 378.00
- Aircraft, spacecraft and parts thereof:R 20 182 607.00
- Pharmaceutical products:R 18 023 265.00
- Cosmetics, Toiletries and Beverage Syrup:R 15 554 409.00
- Residues and waste from the food industries:R 13 184 719.00
- Articles Of Iron or Steel:R 12 886 831.00
- Inorganic chemical compounds:R 12 490 162.00
- Ceramic products:R 12 117 994.00
- Wool, fine or coarse animal hair:R 11 978 472.00
- Salt, sulphur, stone and plastering material:R 11 760 510.00
- Organic chemical compounds:R 8 770 863.00
- Miscellaneous edible preparations:R 8 089 514.00
- Wadding, felt and nonwovens:R 8 043 356.00
- Wood and articles of wood:R 7 223 585.00
- Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits:R 6 828 590.00
- Carpets and other textile floor coverings:R 6 714 194.00
- Rubber and articles thereof:R 6 606 246.00
- Railway or Tramway Locomotives:R 6 567 253.00
- Furniture, bedding and mattresses:R 5 863 128.00
- Tools, cutlery, spoons and forks:R 5 496 492.00
- Works of art, collectors' Pieces and Antiques:R 5 463 010.00
- Prepared meat and fish:R 5 181 038.00
- Live trees and other plants:R 4 796 240.00
- Stone, plaster, cement and Asbestos:R 4 221 308.00
- Made Up textile articles:R 3 687 768.00
- Miscellaneous articles of base metal:R 3 528 601.00
- Miscellaneous Classification Provisions:R 3 299 156.00
- Fish and crustaceans:R 3 275 364.00
- Resins and Vegetable Saps:R 2 837 285.00
- Fertilizers:R 2 449 435.00
- Animal and vegetable fats:R 2 267 744.00
- Glass and Glassware:R 2 227 198.00
- Toys, games and sports equipment:R 2 052 621.00
- Miscellaneous manufactured articles:R 2 039 135.00
- Clocks and watches:R 1 895 000.00
- Umbrellas, sun umbrellas and walking sticks:R 1 756 749.00
- Nickel and Articles Thereof:R 1 377 974.00
- Soap, organic surface:R 1 120 318.00
- Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers:R 687 443.00
- Tanning or dyeing extracts:R 674 581.00
- Products of leather:R 591 918.00
- Prepared feathers:R 591 008.00
- Albuminoidal substances:R 585 885.00
- Special woven fabrics:R 550 485.00
- Man:R 469 640.00
- Base Metals:R 340 994.00
- Products of animal origin:R 310 028.00
- Ships, boats and floating structures:R 298 500.00
- Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics:R 244 301.00
- Impregnated, coated and laminated Textile Fabrics:R 207 114.00
- Printed books , newspapers and pictures:R 162 475.00
- Products of fur and artificial fur:R 112 218.00
- Clothing and accessories, knitted or crocheted:R 109 318.00
- Coffee, tea, mate and spices:R 91 776.00
- Copper and Articles Thereof:R 65 392.00
- Cork and articles of cork:R 49 934.00
- Footwear and gaiters:R 10 220.00
- Man:R 9 922.00
- Clothing and accessories, not knitted or crocheted:R 9 505.00
- Musical instruments:R 9 101.00
- Live animals:R 8 591.00
- Manufactures of straw:R 4 952.00
- Headgear and parts thereof:R 3 825.00
- Silk:R 3 474.00
- Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes:R 1 056.00
- Meat and edible meat offal:R 188.00
- Dairy produce:R 100.00
- Cotton:R 10.00
So the main product exported by South Africa to Germany is Vehicles and accessories. South Africa manufactures a number of German vehicles which it then exports back to Germany. BMW and Volkswagen for example both have manufacturing plants in the Eastern Cape. The second biggest export category to Germany is South Africa's pride and joy, its minerals and commodities that includes Gold, Platimun and Diamonds
Imports from Germany by product category in March 2020 sorted from highest to lowest:
The biggest import category from Germany in March 2020 was Equipment Components. This category contains all the car parts required to assemble vehicles in South Africa which we then export back to Germany or the UK (as we manufacture right hand drive vehicles which is also used in the United Kingdom).
- Equipment Components:R 4 574 498 791.00
- Machinery:R 1 744 794 110.00
- Vehicles aircraft & vessels:R 1 722 341 641.00
- Chemicals:R 1 081 963 963.00
- Plastics & Rubber:R 480 405 112.00
- Products Iron & Steel:R 363 764 655.00
- Photographic & medical equipment:R 358 615 965.00
- Wood pulp & paper:R 212 540 660.00
- Precious Metal:R 197 328 336.00
- Prepared foodstuffs:R 117 265 134.00
- Live animals:R 97 294 908.00
- Stone & Glass:R 92 017 743.00
- Toys & Sport apparel:R 66 894 592.00
- Textiles:R 56 544 304.00
- Mineral Products:R 42 292 652.00
- Vegetables:R 19 566 630.00
- Wood Products:R 14 659 751.00
- Raw hides & leather:R 1 115 503.00
- Footwear:R 707 183.00
- Other unclassified goods:R 450 613.00
- Animal or vegetable fats:R 312 227.00
- Works of art:R 202 024.00
The biggest import category from Germany in March 2020 was Equipment Components. This category contains all the car parts required to assemble vehicles in South Africa which we then export back to Germany or the UK (as we manufacture right hand drive vehicles which is also used in the United Kingdom).