Top South African Exports & Import

Exports of American passenger cars to South Africa were way down in 2006 as the U.S. imports more South African precious metals, diamonds and base metals like zinc.

With a population of some 45 million, South Africa exported US$7.5 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 27.9% from 2005 and up 86.5% since 2002.

South African imports from the U.S. rose 14.2% to $4.5 billion in 2006, up 76.7% since 2002.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade deficit with South Africa was $3.1 billion in 2006, up 103% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with South Africa increased 54.8% in 2006 – up from the 28.5% deficit decrease in 2005 from the year earlier.

South African Exports to U.S.

Of the $7.5 billion in American imports from South Africa in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Precious metals (other than gold) …US$2.7 billion (35.8% of South African to U.S. exports, up 44.5% from 2005)
2. Diamonds … $947.7 million (12.6%, up 26.4%)
3. Unmanufactured steelmaking & ferroalloying materials … $528.4 million (7%, up 20.6%)
4. Aluminum … $369.6 million (4.9%, up 23%)
5. Automotive parts & accessories … $321.9 million (4.3%, up 33.9%)
6. New & used passenger cars … $320.7 million (4.3%, up 165.8%)
7. Miscellaneous non-ferrous metals … $315.2 million (4.2%, up 13.4%)
8. Semi-finished iron & steel mill products … $287 million (3.8%, up 79.5%)
9. Industrial organic chemicals … $248.2 million (3.3%, up 1.7%)
10. Items returned to U.S. then reimported … $108.6 million (1.4%, down 7.9%).

Fastest-Growing South African Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from South Africa in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Paper products … US$7.9 million (up 8,096% from 2005)
2. Zinc … $2.6 million (up 298%)
3. Food & tobacco processing machinery … $4 million (up 297%)
4. New & used passenger cars … $320.7 million (up 166%)
5. Other petroleum products … $67.8 million (up 159%).

South African Imports from U.S.

Of the $4.5 billion in American exports to South Africa in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. New & used passenger cars … US$220.9 million (5% of South African from U.S. imports, down 55.7% from 2005)
2. Excavating machinery … $218.4 million (4.9%, up 35.2%)
3. Organic chemicals … $186.3 million (4.2%, up 36.7%)
4. Minimum value shipments … $183.5 million (4.1%, up 14.7%)
5. Telecommunications equipment … $168.8 million (3.8%, up 29.8%)
6. Other petroleum products… $161.3 million (3.6%, up 32.1%)
7. Civilian aircraft … $160 million (3.6%, up 25.4%)
8. Materials handling equipment … $158.4 million (3.6%, up 62%)
9. Trucks, buses & special purpose vehicles … $153.1 million (3.4%, up 22.8%)
10. Other industrial machines … $136 million (3%, up 6.9%).

Fastest-Growing South African Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to South Africa in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Fuel oil … US$19 million (up from nil in 2005)
2. Coal … $6.9 million (up 4,969%)
3. Sorghum, barley & oats … $4 million (up 1,433%)
4. Corn … $5.6 million (up 1,353%)
5. Steelmaking materials … $1.7 million (up 1,031%).

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.

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