This Trade Brief documents the trading relationship between South Africa and Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) from 2006 to 2015. The analysis uses UNCOMTRADE data sourced from the International Trade Centre (ITC) Trade Map, and is expressed in United States Dollars (in thousands, unless otherwise stated).

Synopsis

South Africa’s exports to the LAC region peaked in 2011 at nearly US$2.2bn but fell more than 50% to 2015 as the economic slowdown associated with the commodity price slump took effect. Over the same period, imports fell from approximately $3.8bn to $2.7bn, causing the regional trade balance to remain in deficit to the tune of approximately $1.6bn.

Major LAC importers from South Africa are Brazil (50%), Argentina (14%) and Mexico (10%); importing primarily motor vehicles (17%), coal-based solid fuels (8%) and ferro-alloys (5%).

Major LAC exporters to South Africa are likewise Brazil (45%), Argentina (22%) and Mexico (19%); exporting primarily oilcake (6%), unwrought zinc (5.5%), maize (4.9%) and duck/turkey meat (4.2%). It is clear from the shares of the top LAC export products that a wide variety of product lines are exported from the LAC countries to SA.

---

---

Trade data spreadsheet

This synopsis should be read in conjunction with the data spreadsheet, and contains the following:

• South Africa’s trade balance with LAC countries, by country;

• Total South African imports from and exports to all LAC countries, by country;

• South Africa’s imports and exports products to all LAC countries at the HS4 level;

• The top 20 LAC exports to South Africa and top 20 LAC imports from South Africa at the HS4 level, by country for all LAC countries;

• Graphical illustrations of South Africa’s trading relationship with the top 6 (by trading value) LAC countries;

• Graphical illustrations of bilateral trade between South Africa and the top ten LAC countries by trade value; and

• Graphical illustrations of South Africa’s market access situation with its ten top trading partners among the LAC countries and ten top exports to the LAC countries.

This Trade Brief documents the trading relationship between South Africa and Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC) from 2006 to 2015. The analysis uses UNCOMTRADE data sourced from the International Trade Centre (ITC) Trade Map, and is expressed in United States Dollars (in thousands, unless otherwise stated).

Synopsis

South Africa’s exports to the LAC region peaked in 2011 at nearly US$2.2bn but fell more than 50% to 2015 as the economic slowdown associated with the commodity price slump took effect. Over the same period, imports fell from approximately $3.8bn to $2.7bn, causing the regional trade balance to remain in deficit to the tune of approximately $1.6bn.

Major LAC importers from South Africa are Brazil (50%), Argentina (14%) and Mexico (10%); importing primarily motor vehicles (17%), coal-based solid fuels (8%) and ferro-alloys (5%).

Major LAC exporters to South Africa are likewise Brazil (45%), Argentina (22%) and Mexico (19%); exporting primarily oilcake (6%), unwrought zinc (5.5%), maize (4.9%) and duck/turkey meat (4.2%). It is clear from the shares of the top LAC export products that a wide variety of product lines are exported from the LAC countries to SA.

---

---

Trade data spreadsheet

This synopsis should be read in conjunction with the data spreadsheet, and contains the following:

• South Africa’s trade balance with LAC countries, by country;

• Total South African imports from and exports to all LAC countries, by country;

• South Africa’s imports and exports products to all LAC countries at the HS4 level;

• The top 20 LAC exports to South Africa and top 20 LAC imports from South Africa at the HS4 level, by country for all LAC countries;

• Graphical illustrations of South Africa’s trading relationship with the top 6 (by trading value) LAC countries;

• Graphical illustrations of bilateral trade between South Africa and the top ten LAC countries by trade value; and

• Graphical illustrations of South Africa’s market access situation with its ten top trading partners among the LAC countries and ten top exports to the LAC countries.