Net trade in goods and services in South Africa
South Africa: Net trade in goods and services was 8.25 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8.25 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 5.6%
World rank
38th
of 199 countries
All-time high
26.35 billion BoP, current US$
in 2021
All-time low
-8.51 billion BoP, current US$
in 2013
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net trade in goods and services in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, net trade in goods and services in South Africa stood at 8.25 billion BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of up 5.6% on the previous year and up 285.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net trade in goods and services in South Africa peaked at 26.35 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -8.51 billion BoP, current US$, in 2013.
That places South Africa 38th out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net trade in goods and services in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 378.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 639.80 million BoP, current US$ | +69.3% |
| 1962 | 743.40 million BoP, current US$ | +16.2% |
| 1963 | 511.00 million BoP, current US$ | -31.3% |
| 1964 | 198.80 million BoP, current US$ | -61.1% |
| 1965 | -121.80 million BoP, current US$ | -161.3% |
| 1966 | 264.60 million BoP, current US$ | -317.2% |
| 1967 | 47.60 million BoP, current US$ | -82.0% |
| 1968 | 449.40 million BoP, current US$ | +844.1% |
| 1969 | 89.60 million BoP, current US$ | -80.1% |
| 1970 | -632.80 million BoP, current US$ | -806.2% |
| 1971 | -829.60 million BoP, current US$ | +31.1% |
| 1972 | 518.44 million BoP, current US$ | -162.5% |
| 1973 | 723.92 million BoP, current US$ | +39.6% |
| 1974 | -190.49 million BoP, current US$ | -126.3% |
| 1975 | -894.82 million BoP, current US$ | +369.7% |
| 1976 | -433.55 million BoP, current US$ | -51.5% |
| 1977 | 1.97 billion BoP, current US$ | -555.4% |
| 1978 | 3.05 billion BoP, current US$ | +54.2% |
| 1979 | 5.28 billion BoP, current US$ | +73.4% |
| 1980 | 6.36 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.4% |
| 1981 | -1.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -123.6% |
| 1982 | -414.51 million BoP, current US$ | -72.4% |
| 1983 | 3.23 billion BoP, current US$ | -879.8% |
| 1984 | 1.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -59.9% |
| 1985 | 5.03 billion BoP, current US$ | +288.0% |
| 1986 | 5.76 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.5% |
| 1987 | 8.50 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.5% |
| 1988 | 5.98 billion BoP, current US$ | -29.7% |
| 1989 | 5.08 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.0% |
| 1990 | 6.14 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.9% |
| 1991 | 5.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -16.6% |
| 1992 | 5.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 6.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1994 | 3.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -49.8% |
| 1995 | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | -66.4% |
| 1996 | 2.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +113.4% |
| 1997 | 1.71 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.0% |
| 1998 | 1.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 3.46 billion BoP, current US$ | +100.0% |
| 2000 | 3.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +13.3% |
| 2001 | 4.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +24.2% |
| 2002 | 4.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2003 | 4.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2004 | -410.37 million BoP, current US$ | -110.1% |
| 2005 | -633.34 million BoP, current US$ | +54.3% |
| 2006 | -4.63 billion BoP, current US$ | +631.7% |
| 2007 | -4.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -13.7% |
| 2008 | -4.93 billion BoP, current US$ | +23.3% |
| 2009 | 1.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -130.8% |
| 2010 | 4.98 billion BoP, current US$ | +227.4% |
| 2011 | 3.58 billion BoP, current US$ | -28.2% |
| 2012 | -5.62 billion BoP, current US$ | -257.2% |
| 2013 | -8.51 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.4% |
| 2014 | -5.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -32.3% |
| 2015 | -4.46 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.7% |
| 2016 | 1.53 billion BoP, current US$ | -134.4% |
| 2017 | 4.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +183.5% |
| 2018 | 1.99 billion BoP, current US$ | -54.3% |
| 2019 | 1.94 billion BoP, current US$ | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 15.08 billion BoP, current US$ | +677.7% |
| 2021 | 26.35 billion BoP, current US$ | +74.8% |
| 2022 | 9.01 billion BoP, current US$ | -65.8% |
| 2023 | 3.12 billion BoP, current US$ | -65.3% |
| 2024 | 7.81 billion BoP, current US$ | +150.2% |
| 2025 | 8.25 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 320.04 million BoP, current US$ | -121.80 million BoP, current US$ | 743.40 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 855.99 million BoP, current US$ | -894.82 million BoP, current US$ | 5.28 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.03 billion BoP, current US$ | 6.14 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 411.06 million BoP, current US$ | -4.93 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.87 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -599.32 million BoP, current US$ | -8.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.98 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.60 billion BoP, current US$ | 3.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 26.35 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.1684 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 1,111 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), annual -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 2.15 constant LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant LCU), per 14,168 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net trade in goods and services in South Africa?
- Net trade in goods and services in South Africa was 8.25 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net trade in goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.35 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest net trade in goods and services recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for net trade in goods and services?
- South Africa ranks 38th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net trade in goods and services rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 285.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net trade in goods and services (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.