Although South Africa is a relatively diversified economy importing and exporting products from a number of different sectors including agriculture, mining and manufacturing, our export basket is still dominated by primary products from mining and agriculture.
The top 5 products from agriculture, mining and manufacturing South Africa imported over the past 5 years are as follows:
Agricultural Products – Imports
Top 5 agricultural products SA imported from the world in the past 5 years |
|||||||||
SA top 5 agricultural imports from the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 agricultural imports from the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 agricultural imports from the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 agricultural imports from the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 agricultural imports from the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Rice: Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed |
6,281 |
Durum wheat: Other |
5,004 |
Durum wheat: Other |
6,016 |
Rice: Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed |
5,975 |
Rice: Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed |
6,015 |
Durum wheat: Other |
3,702 |
Rice: Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed |
4,390 |
Rice: Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed |
5,361 |
Maize (corn): Other |
4,586 |
Durum wheat: Other |
4,369 |
Cuts and offal, frozen:Other |
2,038 |
Cuts and offal, frozen:Other |
2,282 |
Palm nuts and kernels |
1,763 |
Durum wheat: Other |
4,453 |
Palm nuts and kernels |
2,345 |
Not cut in pieces, frozen: Mechanically deboned meat |
712 |
Not cut in pieces, frozen: Mechanically deboned meat |
728 |
Maize (corn): Other |
1,673 |
Dried kernels or grains fit for human consumption, not further prepared or processed and not packaged as seeds (excluding popcorn (Zea mays everta)) |
3,777 |
Cattle: Other |
1,976 |
Malt, whether or not roasted: Of barley |
591 |
Sunflower seeds, whether or not broken |
632 |
Cattle: Other |
1,063 |
Palm nuts and kernels |
2,179 |
Not cut in pieces, frozen: Mechanically deboned meat |
1,364 |
Agricultural Products - Exports
Top 5 agricultural products SA Exported to the world in the past 5 years |
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SA top 5 agricultural export to the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 agricultural export to the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 agricultural export to the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 agricultural export to the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 agricultural export to the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Maize (corn): Other |
6,467 |
Oranges: Fresh |
6,542 |
Oranges: Fresh |
7,609 |
Oranges: Fresh |
8,807 |
Oranges: Fresh |
10,002 |
Oranges: Fresh |
5,660 |
Grapes: Fresh |
5,392 |
Grapes: Fresh |
6,126 |
Grapes: Fresh |
6,408 |
Grapes: Fresh |
7,209 |
Apples |
4,282 |
Maize (corn): Other |
4,318 |
Apples |
4,861 |
Apples |
5,274 |
Maize (corn): Other |
5,018 |
Grapes: Fresh |
4,260 |
Apples |
3,838 |
Lemons: Fresh |
3,066 |
Lemons: Fresh |
3,869 |
Apples |
4,981 |
Pears |
1,853 |
Lemons: Fresh |
2,470 |
Pears |
2,062 |
Maize (corn): Other |
3,844 |
Lemons: Fresh |
3,882 |
Mining Products – Imports
Top 5 mining products SA imported from the world over the past 5 years |
|||||||||
SA top 5 mining imports from the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 mining imports from the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 mining imports from the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 mining imports from the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 mining imports from the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Precious metal ores and concentrates: Other |
1,363 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Other coal |
1,140 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Other coal |
1,221 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Other coal |
1,396 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Other coal |
2,320 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Other coal |
1,014 |
Portland cement: Other |
827 |
Nickel ores and concentrates |
736 |
Nickel ores and concentrates |
1,367 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
1,610 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
669 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
684 |
Portland cement: Other |
509 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
408 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
650 |
Portland cement: Other |
628 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
592 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
469 |
Natural magnesium carbonate (magnesite); fused magnesia; dead-burned (sintered) magnesia, whether or not containing small quantities of other oxides added before sintering; other magnesium oxide, whether or not pure: Other |
315 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Other coal |
609 |
Zinc ores and concentrates |
592 |
Cobalt ores and concentrates |
320 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
467 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
303 |
Sulphur of all kinds (excluding sublimed sulphur, precipitated sulphur and colloidal sulphur) |
372 |
Mining Products – Exports
Top 5 mining products SA exported to the world over the past 5 years |
|||||||||
SA top 5 Mining exports to the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 Mining exports to the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 Mining exports to the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 Mining exports to the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 Mining exports to the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Non-monetary: Other semi-manufactured forms (Gold) |
65,899 |
Non-monetary: Other semi-manufactured forms (Gold) |
62,654 |
Non-monetary: Other semi-manufactured forms (Gold) |
67,663 |
Non-monetary: Other semi-manufactured forms (Gold) |
67,355 |
Non-monetary: Other semi-manufactured forms (Gold) |
66,411 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
41,221 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
28,508 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
23,624 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
26,924 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
30,330 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Non-agglomerated |
16,317 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
20,159 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
21,642 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
19,992 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Agglomerated |
25,543 |
Coal, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated: Bituminous coal |
15,020 |
Iron ores and concentrates (excluding roasted iron pyrites): Non-agglomerated |
14,776 |
Platinum: Unwrought or in powder form |
11,310 |
Manganese ores and concentrates, including ferruginous manganese ores and concentrates with a manganese content of 20 per cent or more, calculated on the dry mass |
12,534 |
Manganese ores and concentrates, including ferruginous manganese ores and concentrates with a manganese content of 20 per cent or more, calculated on the dry mass |
17,016 |
Platinum: Other |
12,743 |
Manganese ores and concentrates, including ferruginous manganese ores and concentrates with a manganese content of 20 per cent or more, calculated on the dry mass |
8,065 |
Chromium ores and concentrates |
9,839 |
Chromium ores and concentrates |
11,574 |
Chromium ores and concentrates |
15,171 |
Manufactured Products –Imports
Top 5 manufactured products SA imported from the world over the past 5 years |
|||||||||
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude |
142,050 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude |
175,840 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude |
98,451 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude |
96,078 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude |
85,531 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excluding crude); |
42,457 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excluding crude); |
44,758 |
Original equipment components: for motor cars (including station wagons) of heading 87.03 (excluding tyres) |
43,490 |
Original equipment components: for motor cars (including station wagons) of heading 87.03 (excluding tyres) |
45,165 |
Original equipment components: for motor cars (including station wagons) of heading 87.03 (excluding tyres) |
46,676 |
Original equipment components: for motor cars (including station wagons) of heading 87.03 (excluding tyres) |
28,762 |
Original equipment components: for motor cars (including station wagons) of heading 87.03 (excluding tyres) |
34,346 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excluding crude); |
38,202 |
Original equipment components: For motor vehicles for the transport of goods of heading 87.04, of a vehicle mass not exceeding 2 000 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg, or of a mass not exceeding 1 600 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg per chassis fitted with a cab (excluding dumpers designed for off-highway use, shuttle cars and low construction flame-proof vehicles, for use in underground mines and off-the-road logging trucks; excluding tyres) |
27,070 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excluding crude); |
37,222 |
Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks: Designed for use when carried in the hand or on the person |
20,823 |
Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks: Designed for use when carried in the hand or on the person |
21,280 |
Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks: Designed for use when carried in the hand or on the person |
21,286 |
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excluding crude); |
23,355 |
Original equipment components: For motor vehicles for the transport of goods of heading 87.04, of a vehicle mass not exceeding 2 000 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg, or of a mass not exceeding 1 600 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg per chassis fitted with a cab (excluding dumpers designed for off-highway use, shuttle cars and low construction flame-proof vehicles, for use in underground mines and off-the-road logging trucks; excluding tyres) |
26,442 |
Motor cars of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 3 000 cm³: other |
18,658 |
Original equipment components: For motor vehicles for the transport of goods of heading 87.04, of a vehicle mass not exceeding 2 000 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg, or of a mass not exceeding 1 600 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg per chassis fitted with a cab (excluding dumpers designed for off-highway use, shuttle cars and low construction flame-proof vehicles, for use in underground mines and off-the-road logging trucks; excluding tyres) |
17,955 |
Original equipment components: For motor vehicles for the transport of goods of heading 87.04, of a vehicle mass not exceeding 2 000 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg, or of a mass not exceeding 1 600 kg or of a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg per chassis fitted with a cab (excluding dumpers designed for off-highway use, shuttle cars and low construction flame-proof vehicles, for use in underground mines and off-the-road logging trucks; excluding tyres) |
19,886 |
Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus: other |
19,696 |
Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus: other |
20,459 |
Manufactured Products – Exports
Top 5 manufactured products SA exported to the world over the past 5 years |
|||||||||
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 Mining exports to the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 3 000 cm³: Other |
14,841 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 3 000 cm³: Other |
12,246 |
Ferro-chromium: Containing by mass more than 4 per cent of carbon |
16,570 |
Ferro-chromium: Containing by mass more than 4 per cent of carbon |
17,646 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 3 000 cm³: Other |
11,348 |
Ferro-chromium: Containing by mass more than 4 per cent of carbon |
10,182 |
Ferro-chromium: Containing by mass more than 4 per cent of carbon |
12,033 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 3 000 cm³: Other |
12,888 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 3 000 cm³: Other |
13,607 |
Ferro-chromium: Containing by mass more than 4 per cent of carbon |
11,276 |
Catalytic converters of a kind used for motor vehicles |
7,076 |
Catalytic converters of a kind used for motor vehicles |
8,053 |
Catalytic converters of a kind used for motor vehicles |
7,838 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 2 500 cm³: Other |
11,574 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 2 500 cm³: Other |
11,049 |
Distillate fuel, as defined in Additional Note 1(g) |
4,590 |
Distillate fuel, as defined in Additional Note 1(g) |
5,290 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 2 500 cm³: Other |
7,092 |
Catalytic converters of a kind used for motor vehicles |
8,826 |
Catalytic converters of a kind used for motor vehicles |
8,886 |
Palladium: Unwrought or in powder form |
4,439 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 2 500 cm³: Other |
4,285 |
Vehicles of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1 500 cm³ but not exceeding 2 500 cm³: Other |
6,740 |
Other, double-cab, of a vehicle mass not exceeding 2 000 kg or a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg, or of a mass not exceeding 1 600 kg or a G.V.M. not exceeding 3 500 kg per chassis fitted with a cab |
6,258 |
Palladium: Unwrought or in powder form |
7,689 |
Other Manufactured – Imports
Top 5 other manufactured products SA imported from the world over the past 5 years |
|||||||||
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 manufacturing imports from the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size ("scale") models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds: Other |
1634 |
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size ("scale") models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds: Other |
1984 |
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size ("scale") models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds: Other |
2142 |
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size ("scale") models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds: Other |
2316 |
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size ("scale") models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds: Other |
2218 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
1040 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
1299 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
1284 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
1416 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
1483 |
Games of skill or chance |
583 |
Games of skill or chance |
831 |
Games of skill or chance |
851 |
Games of skill or chance |
939 |
Games of skill or chance |
914 |
Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics |
477 |
Video games consoles and machines (excluding those of subheading 9504.30): Other |
690 |
Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics |
669 |
Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics |
601 |
Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics |
626 |
Video games consoles and machines (excluding those of subheading 9504.30): Other |
458 |
Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics |
569 |
Video games consoles and machines (excluding those of subheading 9504.30): Other |
526 |
Video games consoles and machines (excluding those of subheading 9504.30): Other |
561 |
Video games consoles and machines (excluding those of subheading 9504.30): Other |
604 |
Other Manufactured - Exports
Top 5 other manufactured products SA exported to the world over the past 5 years |
|||||||||
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2013 |
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2014 |
SA top 5 Mining exports to the world |
2015 |
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2016 |
SA top 5 manufacturing exports to the world |
2017 |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
R' million |
|||||
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: |
200 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: |
259 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: |
312 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: |
377 |
Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
419 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Other |
128 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Other |
203 |
Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
279 |
Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
345 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: |
395 |
Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
107 |
Of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres |
201 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Other |
207 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Other |
250 |
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material: Other |
206 |
Ink-pads |
95 |
Games of skill or chance |
124 |
Napkins for babies and similar articles of plastics or of other materials of headings 39.01 to 39.14 |
114 |
Napkins for babies and similar articles of plastics or of other materials of headings 39.01 to 39.14 |
150 |
Sanitary towels (pads), tampons and napkin liners for babies and similar articles of plastics or of other materials of heading 39.01 to 39.14 |
147 |
Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics or athletics |
82 |
Travelling circuses and travelling menageries |
97 |
Sanitary towels (pads), tampons and napkin liners for babies and similar articles of plastics or of other materials of heading 39.01 to 39.14 |
112 |
Sanitary towels (pads), tampons and napkin liners for babies and similar articles of plastics or of other materials of heading 39.01 to 39.14 |
141 |
Napkins for babies and similar articles of plastics or of other materials of headings 39.01 to 39.14 |
141 |