Share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports in South Africa
South Africa: Share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports was 38.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports in South Africa, 1974–2025
Source: UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2025, share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports in South Africa stood at 38.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports in South Africa peaked at 61.3% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1981.
That places South Africa 89th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 29.8% | — |
| 1975 | 26.7% | -10.3% |
| 1976 | 33.0% | +23.4% |
| 1977 | 38.7% | +17.2% |
| 1978 | 36.8% | -4.9% |
| 1979 | 37.9% | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 18.2% | -51.9% |
| 1981 | 17.5% | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 19.0% | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 18.1% | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 19.4% | +7.4% |
| 1992 | 28.4% | +46.6% |
| 1993 | 38.6% | +35.8% |
| 1994 | 38.9% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 42.8% | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 54.3% | +26.7% |
| 1997 | 57.3% | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 53.1% | -7.4% |
| 1999 | 54.8% | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 53.2% | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 52.8% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 61.3% | +16.1% |
| 2003 | 57.1% | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 56.5% | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 55.5% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 52.0% | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 50.7% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 51.5% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 46.8% | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 48.7% | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 41.1% | -15.6% |
| 2012 | 43.5% | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 42.4% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 45.8% | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 47.6% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 47.7% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 44.0% | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 43.5% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 43.0% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 38.4% | -10.7% |
| 2021 | 36.1% | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 37.3% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 40.5% | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 39.1% | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 38.3% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33.8% | 26.7% | 38.7% | 6 |
| 1980s | 18.5% | 17.5% | 19.4% | 5 |
| 1990s | 46.0% | 28.4% | 57.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 53.7% | 46.8% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.7% | 41.1% | 48.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.3% | 36.1% | 40.5% | 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)
- Services, value added (constant LCU), per capita 48,868 constant LCU per person (2025)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 6.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8998 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 5,937 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 16.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 106,203 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports in South Africa?
- Share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports in South Africa was 38.3% in 2025, according to UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 61.3% in 2002.
- What is the lowest share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1981.
- How does South Africa rank for share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports?
- South Africa ranks 89th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of manufactured products in total merchandise exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of manufacture exports divided by the total value of merchandise exports, expressed as a percentage.