Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade in South Africa

South Africa: Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade was 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
72.69 Percentage of merchandise value
Change on year
down 8.5%
World rank
41st
of 42 countries
All-time high
125.56 Percentage of merchandise value
in 2010
All-time low
72.69 Percentage of merchandise value
in 2020
Years of data
14
2007–2020

Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade in South Africa, 2007–2020

0501001502007201320202007: 116.9 Percentage of merchandise value2008: 118.4 Percentage of merchandise value2009: 115.8 Percentage of merchandise value2010: 125.6 Percentage of merchandise value2011: 100.4 Percentage of merchandise value2012: 107.6 Percentage of merchandise value2013: 116.6 Percentage of merchandise value2014: 106.6 Percentage of merchandise value2015: 102.1 Percentage of merchandise value2016: 104 Percentage of merchandise value2017: 103.3 Percentage of merchandise value2018: 91.1 Percentage of merchandise value2019: 79.4 Percentage of merchandise value2020: 72.7 Percentage of merchandise value

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of merchandise value.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value for africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.5% on the previous year and down 42.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade in South Africa peaked at 125.56 Percentage of merchandise value in 2010 and was at its lowest, 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value, in 2020.

That places South Africa 41st out of 42 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade costs — Average cost of trade within the same AU region, primary goods in South Africa, 2007 to 2020.
Year Percentage of merchandise value Change
2007 116.88 Percentage of merchandise value
2008 118.4 Percentage of merchandise value +1.3%
2009 115.84 Percentage of merchandise value -2.2%
2010 125.56 Percentage of merchandise value +8.4%
2011 100.42 Percentage of merchandise value -20.0%
2012 107.59 Percentage of merchandise value +7.1%
2013 116.64 Percentage of merchandise value +8.4%
2014 106.58 Percentage of merchandise value -8.6%
2015 102.15 Percentage of merchandise value -4.2%
2016 103.99 Percentage of merchandise value +1.8%
2017 103.32 Percentage of merchandise value -0.6%
2018 91.08 Percentage of merchandise value -11.8%
2019 79.43 Percentage of merchandise value -12.8%
2020 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value -8.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 117.04 Percentage of merchandise value 115.84 Percentage of merchandise value 118.4 Percentage of merchandise value 3
2010s 103.68 Percentage of merchandise value 79.43 Percentage of merchandise value 125.56 Percentage of merchandise value 10
2020s 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 38 Namibia 113.2 Percentage of merchandise value compare
  2. 39 Mozambique 97.64 Percentage of merchandise value compare
  3. 40 Botswana 79.34 Percentage of merchandise value compare
  4. 42 Zimbabwe 60.9 Percentage of merchandise value compare

See the full ranking of 49 places →

More economy & growth data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade in South Africa?
Africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade in South Africa was 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value in 2020, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 125.56 Percentage of merchandise value in 2010.
What is the lowest africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 72.69 Percentage of merchandise value in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade?
South Africa ranks 41st out of 42 countries with data for 2020.
Is africa's development dynamics (afdd) table 28 - international trade rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade costs — Average cost of trade within the same AU region, primary goods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/africa-s-development-dynamics-afdd-table-28-international-trade-costs-average-cost-of/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 28 - International trade costs — Average cost of trade within the same AU region, primary goods
Unit
Percentage of merchandise value
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
49 places, 887 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed

The Statistical Annex to the annual Africa's Development Dynamics (AFDD) report is a collection of development indicators that were gathered and analysed while conducting the research that went into the report. These data are also available online for free viewing or download at https://oe.cd/AFDD-2024, a bilingual website which links to the electronic version of the Africa's Development Dynamics book in both English and French. Table 28 shows the average cost of importing and exporting goods calculated as a percentage of the value of goods traded, broken down by the origin and destination of the trade, whether it is with bordering countries, with countries in the same region, or the same continent.