Net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa
South Africa: Net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply was 7.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa stood at 7.7%.
That represents a change of up 36.3% on the previous year and up 238.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa peaked at 19.7% in 1968 and was at its lowest, -9.2%, in 1992.
That places South Africa 34th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 13.3% | — |
| 1962 | 19.0% | +42.4% |
| 1963 | 18.8% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 15.0% | -20.4% |
| 1965 | 9.9% | -33.9% |
| 1966 | 4.3% | -56.7% |
| 1967 | 13.2% | +208.0% |
| 1968 | 19.7% | +49.1% |
| 1969 | 8.2% | -58.3% |
| 1970 | 8.4% | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 8.2% | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 15.0% | +82.4% |
| 1973 | 9.1% | -39.7% |
| 1974 | 11.5% | +27.0% |
| 1975 | 14.4% | +25.5% |
| 1976 | 10.3% | -28.4% |
| 1977 | 10.4% | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 12.2% | +17.9% |
| 1979 | 10.3% | -16.0% |
| 1980 | 14.9% | +44.4% |
| 1981 | 12.8% | -13.8% |
| 1982 | 11.5% | -10.1% |
| 1983 | 2.0% | -82.5% |
| 1984 | -4.4% | -320.2% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | -162.4% |
| 1986 | 5.6% | +102.6% |
| 1987 | 6.8% | +21.4% |
| 1988 | 3.8% | -44.2% |
| 1989 | 10.5% | +177.4% |
| 1990 | 5.0% | -52.5% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -93.6% |
| 1992 | -9.2% | -2966.2% |
| 1993 | -4.1% | -55.6% |
| 1994 | 6.9% | -268.1% |
| 1995 | -0.4% | -106.2% |
| 1996 | 3.2% | -850.5% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | +17.8% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | +30.9% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | -17.3% |
| 2000 | 3.7% | -9.6% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +56.0% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | -49.2% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -78.6% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | +676.5% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -91.5% |
| 2007 | -2.1% | -587.4% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | -235.1% |
| 2009 | 4.1% | +45.5% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | -80.6% |
| 2011 | -0.4% | -148.6% |
| 2012 | -4.4% | +1026.9% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -151.8% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -12.2% |
| 2015 | -0.0% | -101.7% |
| 2016 | -6.8% | +19916.4% |
| 2017 | -0.2% | -96.4% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | -639.5% |
| 2019 | -1.8% | -236.6% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -290.0% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | +36.8% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | +20.9% |
| 2023 | 7.7% | +36.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -16.1%. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -10.3%. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -19916.4% | -0.0% | -6.8% |
| 1992 | -2966.2% | 0.3% | -9.2% |
| 2012 | -1026.9% | -0.4% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | +850.5% | -0.4% | 3.2% |
| 2005 | +676.5% | 0.6% | 5.0% |
| 2018 | +639.5% | -0.2% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13.5% | 4.3% | 19.7% | 9 |
| 1970s | 11.0% | 8.2% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.6% | -4.4% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | -9.2% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | -2.1% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.7% | -6.8% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 3.4% | 7.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa?
- Net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply in South Africa was 7.7% in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 1968.
- What is the lowest net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -9.2% in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 238.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Net trade of food products as a share of domestic supply. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net exported tonnes of food products expressed as a share of domestic supply. This includes items primarily intended for human consumption, but some may also be used for non-food purposes such as biofuels or animal feed. Positive values mean that countries are net exporters and negative values mean they are net importers.