In 2022, South Africa’s intra-African merchandise trade was valued at approximately US$40 billion, accounting for only 17% of the country’s total merchandise trade. South Africa’s intra-African merchandise trade increased by 13% between 2021 and 2022. Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe are South Africa’s main trading partners in Africa. These four countries account for 51% of South Africa’s intra-African merchandise trade. South Africa’s main intra-African trading partners are SACU and SADC members, except for Nigeria.

For 2022, the value of South Africa’s intra-African exports totalled to about US$30 billion, accounting for 24% of South Africa’s total exports. Between 2021 and 2022, South Africa’s intra-African exports increased by 14%. South Africa’s main intra-African exports are light oils, bituminous coal, ferro-chromium, chromium ores, electrical energy, goods vehicles and non-agglomerated iron ores. Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia are the main destination markets for South Africa’s intra-African exports, importing 67% of South Africa’s intra-African exports.

The value of South Africa’s intra-African imports in 2022 was about US$10 billion, accounting for only 9% of the country’s total imports. South Africa’s intra-African imports surged by 7% between 2021 and 2022. The main intra-African imports for South Africa include petroleum oils, gold, natural gas, mixtures of odoriferous substances, electrical energy and non-industrial diamonds. The bulk (64%) of South Africa’s intra-African imports are sourced from Nigeria, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana.

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