Net trade in goods in South Africa
South Africa: Net trade in goods was 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
11.97 billion BoP, current US$
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
33rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
30.80 billion BoP, current US$
in 2021
All-time low
-7.66 billion BoP, current US$
in 2013
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net trade in goods in South Africa, 1960–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, net trade in goods in South Africa stood at 11.97 billion BoP, current US$.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 379.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net trade in goods in South Africa peaked at 30.80 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, -7.66 billion BoP, current US$, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 33rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net trade in goods in South Africa, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 378.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 623.00 million BoP, current US$ | +64.8% |
| 1962 | 742.00 million BoP, current US$ | +19.1% |
| 1963 | 550.20 million BoP, current US$ | -25.8% |
| 1964 | 271.60 million BoP, current US$ | -50.6% |
| 1965 | 7.00 million BoP, current US$ | -97.4% |
| 1966 | 366.80 million BoP, current US$ | +5140.0% |
| 1967 | 161.00 million BoP, current US$ | -56.1% |
| 1968 | 557.20 million BoP, current US$ | +246.1% |
| 1969 | 247.80 million BoP, current US$ | -55.5% |
| 1970 | -403.20 million BoP, current US$ | -262.7% |
| 1971 | -584.92 million BoP, current US$ | +45.1% |
| 1972 | 679.51 million BoP, current US$ | -216.2% |
| 1973 | 908.04 million BoP, current US$ | +33.6% |
| 1974 | 60.55 million BoP, current US$ | -93.3% |
| 1975 | -541.48 million BoP, current US$ | -994.3% |
| 1976 | -190.90 million BoP, current US$ | -64.7% |
| 1977 | 2.36 billion BoP, current US$ | -1336.1% |
| 1978 | 3.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +47.2% |
| 1979 | 5.71 billion BoP, current US$ | +64.2% |
| 1980 | 7.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.8% |
| 1981 | -170.09 million BoP, current US$ | -102.4% |
| 1982 | 684.63 million BoP, current US$ | -502.5% |
| 1983 | 4.15 billion BoP, current US$ | +506.8% |
| 1984 | 2.10 billion BoP, current US$ | -49.5% |
| 1985 | 5.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +164.3% |
| 1986 | 6.57 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.4% |
| 1987 | 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ | +42.1% |
| 1988 | 6.83 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.8% |
| 1989 | 5.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.5% |
| 1990 | 6.53 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.4% |
| 1991 | 5.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -11.8% |
| 1992 | 6.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +9.5% |
| 1993 | 7.54 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1994 | 4.41 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.5% |
| 1995 | 2.39 billion BoP, current US$ | -45.8% |
| 1996 | 2.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +20.1% |
| 1997 | 2.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.9% |
| 1998 | 2.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.0% |
| 1999 | 4.02 billion BoP, current US$ | +100.9% |
| 2000 | 4.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2001 | 5.26 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 4.76 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 3.43 billion BoP, current US$ | -27.9% |
| 2004 | -281.48 million BoP, current US$ | -108.2% |
| 2005 | -311.05 million BoP, current US$ | +10.5% |
| 2006 | -3.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +1015.4% |
| 2007 | -2.57 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.9% |
| 2008 | -1.93 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.8% |
| 2009 | 3.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -290.1% |
| 2010 | 8.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +123.0% |
| 2011 | 6.70 billion BoP, current US$ | -18.3% |
| 2012 | -4.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -171.8% |
| 2013 | -7.66 billion BoP, current US$ | +59.3% |
| 2014 | -5.82 billion BoP, current US$ | -24.0% |
| 2015 | -4.29 billion BoP, current US$ | -26.3% |
| 2016 | 1.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -143.6% |
| 2017 | 4.42 billion BoP, current US$ | +136.2% |
| 2018 | 1.87 billion BoP, current US$ | -57.7% |
| 2019 | 2.49 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.0% |
| 2020 | 17.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +613.0% |
| 2021 | 30.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +73.7% |
| 2022 | 14.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -52.7% |
| 2023 | 7.52 billion BoP, current US$ | -48.4% |
| 2024 | 11.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.2% |
| 2025 | 11.97 billion BoP, current US$ | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 390.46 million BoP, current US$ | 7.00 million BoP, current US$ | 742.00 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.15 billion BoP, current US$ | -584.92 million BoP, current US$ | 5.71 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.78 billion BoP, current US$ | -170.09 million BoP, current US$ | 9.33 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.42 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.00 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.54 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.33 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 295.62 million BoP, current US$ | -7.66 billion BoP, current US$ | 8.19 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 7.52 billion BoP, current US$ | 30.80 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)
- GDP (current US$), annual growth rate 6.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current US$), per capita 6,598 current US$ per person (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), annual growth rate 3.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per unit of GDP 17.89 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (current LCU), per capita 118,025 current LCU per person (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 1.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.8659 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- GDP (constant 2015 US$), per capita 5,713 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net trade in goods in South Africa?
- Net trade in goods in South Africa was 11.97 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 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 30.80 billion BoP, current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest net trade in goods recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.66 billion BoP, current US$ in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for net trade in goods?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net trade in goods rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 379.1%. 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 (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods is the difference between the exports and imports of goods. 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.