South Africa Exports to China
South Africa's exports to China fell to $12.41 billion in 2024, down from $12.48 billion in 2023, according to the UN Comtrade Database. This represents a decrease of 0.6% ($69.87 million) from the previous year. Top exports from South Africa to China were Ores, slag, ash ($8.23 billion), Iron and steel ($1.39 billion) and Copper and copper articles ($849.93 million).
South Africa had a trade deficit with China that narrowed to $9.36 billion in 2024 from $9.43 billion in 2023. This is a decrease of 0.8% ($76 million).
South Africa Exports to China by Goods (2024)
The table below shows the ranking of South Africa exports to China by goods in 2024, highlighting the top exported goods.
| Export Rank | Exported Goods | Export Value (USD) ↓ | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ores, slag, ash | $8.23B | 2024 |
| 2 | Iron and steel | $1.39B | 2024 |
| 3 | Copper and copper articles | $849.93M | 2024 |
| 4 | Edible fruits and nuts, citrus or melon peel | $410.42M | 2024 |
| 5 | Pulp, recovered paper, paperboard | $313.78M | 2024 |
| 6 | Pearls, precious stones, metals, jewelry, coins | $282.46M | 2024 |
| 7 | Wool and animal hair fabrics | $218.08M | 2024 |
| 8 | Inorganic chemicals, precious metal compounds, isotopes | $87.32M | 2024 |
| 9 | Salt, sulphur, stone, cement | $87.08M | 2024 |
| 10 | Mineral fuels, oils, waxes, bitumen | $62.15M | 2024 |
| 11 | Wood and wood products, charcoal | $47.18M | 2024 |
| 12 | Machinery, mechanical appliances, reactors | $32.76M | 2024 |
| 13 | Raw hides, skins, leather | $30.59M | 2024 |
| 14 | Nickel and nickel articles | $28.86M | 2024 |
| 15 | Electrical machinery and equipment; audio and video equipment | $24.58M | 2024 |
| 16 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway and parts | $23.01M | 2024 |
| 17 | Food industry residues, animal feed | $22.70M | 2024 |
| 18 | Organic chemicals | $22.58M | 2024 |
| 19 | Dyes, pigments, tanning extracts, paints, inks | $21.59M | 2024 |
| 20 | Meat and edible offal | $21.34M | 2024 |
| 21 | Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates | $20.16M | 2024 |
| 22 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $18.75M | 2024 |
| 23 | Beverages, spirits, vinegar | $16.73M | 2024 |
| 24 | Aluminium and aluminium articles | $16.29M | 2024 |
| 25 | Feathers, down, artificial flowers, human hair goods | $15.54M | 2024 |
| 26 | Plastics and plastic articles | $10.19M | 2024 |
| 27 | Oilseeds, grains, fodder, medicinal plants | $9.25M | 2024 |
| 28 | Live plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers, foliage | $8.58M | 2024 |
| 29 | Knitted or crocheted clothing | $7.99M | 2024 |
| 30 | Railway locomotives, rolling stock, track equipment | $7.95M | 2024 |
| 31 | Articles of iron or steel | $7.75M | 2024 |
| 32 | Essential oils, perfumery, cosmetics | $7.31M | 2024 |
| 33 | Articles of stone, cement, mica, asbestos | $7.14M | 2024 |
| 34 | Prepared vegetables, fruits, nuts | $7.07M | 2024 |
| 35 | Pharmaceutical products | $5.73M | 2024 |
| 36 | Other base metals, cermets | $5.61M | 2024 |
| 37 | Vegetable plaiting materials, other vegetable products | $4.10M | 2024 |
| 38 | Optical, medical, measuring instruments | $3.54M | 2024 |
| 39 | Rubber and rubber articles | $3.05M | 2024 |
| 40 | Animal products | $2.88M | 2024 |
| 41 | Fertilizers | $2.48M | 2024 |
| 42 | Tobacco, nicotine products and substitutes | $2.38M | 2024 |
| 43 | Ceramic products | $1.51M | 2024 |
| 44 | Carpets and textile floor coverings | $1.27M | 2024 |
| 45 | Furniture, bedding, lighting, prefabricated buildings | $1.24M | 2024 |
| 46 | Aircraft, spacecraft, parts | $1.17M | 2024 |
| 47 | Glues, enzymes, modified starches | $1.16M | 2024 |
| 48 | Cotton | $975,716.12 | 2024 |
| 49 | Toys, games, sports goods | $869,612.90 | 2024 |
| 50 | Cereals | $808,069.62 | 2024 |
| 51 | Paper, paperboard and articles | $644,595.14 | 2024 |
| 52 | Tools, cutlery, base metal parts | $626,820.22 | 2024 |
| 53 | Works of art, antiques | $572,259.45 | 2024 |
| 54 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | $519,344.26 | 2024 |
| 55 | Man-made staple fibres | $493,087.57 | 2024 |
| 56 | Non-knitted clothing | $456,435.03 | 2024 |
| 57 | Edible vegetables, roots, tubers | $397,540.80 | 2024 |
| 58 | Lead and lead articles | $380,568.51 | 2024 |
| 59 | Footwear and parts | $376,881.87 | 2024 |
| 60 | Unspecified commodities | $345,129.07 | 2024 |
| 61 | Miscellaneous base metal articles | $342,766.14 | 2024 |
| 62 | Soap, detergents, waxes, candles, dental products | $270,053.10 | 2024 |
| 63 | Miscellaneous manufactured goods | $245,526.94 | 2024 |
| 64 | Miscellaneous edible preparations | $231,699.46 | 2024 |
| 65 | Sugar and confectionery | $211,130.11 | 2024 |
| 66 | Milling products, malt, starch, inulin, wheat gluten | $187,312.61 | 2024 |
| 67 | Dairy, eggs, honey, other animal products | $153,581.43 | 2024 |
| 68 | Lac, gums, resins, vegetable extracts | $147,325.88 | 2024 |
| 69 | Leather goods, bags, saddlery, travel goods | $140,140.35 | 2024 |
| 70 | Technical textile fabrics, coated fabrics | $125,899.60 | 2024 |
| 71 | Coffee, tea, mate, spices | $122,271.21 | 2024 |
| 72 | Other textile articles, worn clothing, rags | $104,111.04 | 2024 |
| 73 | Furskins and artificial fur | $83,965.27 | 2024 |
| 74 | Cereal, flour, starch, milk preparations, bakery | $72,854.97 | 2024 |
| 75 | Printed books, newspapers, printed matter | $69,515.27 | 2024 |
| 76 | Man-made filaments | $68,411.46 | 2024 |
| 77 | Fats and oils, edible fats, waxes | $65,493.81 | 2024 |
| 78 | Prepared meat, fish, crustaceans, insects | $49,174.72 | 2024 |
| 79 | Musical instruments, parts | $27,520.08 | 2024 |
| 80 | Special woven fabrics, lace, embroidery | $22,447.28 | 2024 |
| 81 | Ships, boats, floating structures | $21,020.61 | 2024 |
| 82 | Clocks, watches, parts | $20,121.96 | 2024 |
| 83 | Glass and glassware | $15,329.22 | 2024 |
| 84 | Wadding, felt, twine, ropes, cords | $7,642.20 | 2024 |
| 85 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations | $4,006.77 | 2024 |
| 86 | Headgear | $2,457.49 | 2024 |
| 87 | Live animals | $363.70 | 2024 |
| 88 | Umbrellas, canes, whips, riding crops | $132.50 | 2024 |
| 89 | Silk | $73.70 | 2024 |
| 90 | Basketware, wickerwork, straw goods | $60.92 | 2024 |
| 91 | Zinc and zinc articles | $5.41 | 2024 |
| 92 | Cork and cork products | $1.53 | 2024 |
| 93 | Vegetable textile fibres, paper yarn | $1.09 | 2024 |
| 94 | Explosives, pyrotechnics, matches | $0.11 | 2024 |
South Africa Exports to China (2000-2024)
The table below shows historical data for South Africa exports to China by year, expressed in Billion USD.
| Year | Export Value (Billion USD) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 12.41 |
| 2023 | 12.48 |
| 2022 | 11.69 |
| 2021 | 13.57 |
| 2020 | 9.79 |
| 2019 | 9.60 |
| 2018 | 8.55 |
| 2017 | 8.67 |
| 2016 | 6.92 |
| 2015 | 7.40 |
| 2014 | 8.77 |
| 2013 | 12.05 |
| 2012 | 10.32 |
| 2011 | 12.50 |
| 2010 | 8.07 |
| 2009 | 5.67 |
| 2008 | 4.31 |
| 2007 | 4.17 |
| 2006 | 2.11 |
| 2005 | 1.37 |
| 2004 | 1.06 |
| 2003 | 0.89 |
| 2002 | 0.45 |
| 2001 | 0.46 |
| 2000 | 0.34 |