South Africa Imports from Germany
South Africa's imports from Germany fell to $7.1 billion in 2024, down from $8.68 billion in 2023, according to the UN Comtrade Database. This represents a decrease of 18.3% ($1.59 billion) from the previous year. Top imports for South Africa from Germany were Unspecified commodities ($1.89 billion), Machinery, mechanical appliances, reactors ($1.17 billion) and Vehicles other than railway or tramway ($994.95 million).
South Africa had a trade deficit with Germany that narrowed to $13.79 million in 2024 from $1.2 billion in 2023. This is a decrease of 98.8% ($1.18 billion).
South Africa Imports from Germany by Goods (2024)
The table below shows the ranking of South Africa imports from Germany by goods in 2024, highlighting the top imported goods.
| Import Rank | Imported Goods | Import Value (USD) ↓ | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unspecified commodities | $1.89B | 2024 |
| 2 | Machinery, mechanical appliances, reactors | $1.17B | 2024 |
| 3 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway and parts | $994.95M | 2024 |
| 4 | Electrical machinery and equipment; audio and video equipment | $344.81M | 2024 |
| 5 | Optical, medical, measuring instruments | $310.24M | 2024 |
| 6 | Plastics and plastic articles | $306.15M | 2024 |
| 7 | Pharmaceutical products | $243.26M | 2024 |
| 8 | Iron and steel | $211.29M | 2024 |
| 9 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $186.13M | 2024 |
| 10 | Paper, paperboard and articles | $141.99M | 2024 |
| 11 | Essential oils, perfumery, cosmetics | $103.66M | 2024 |
| 12 | Organic chemicals | $96.72M | 2024 |
| 13 | Articles of iron or steel | $88.67M | 2024 |
| 14 | Dyes, pigments, tanning extracts, paints, inks | $85.27M | 2024 |
| 15 | Soap, detergents, waxes, candles, dental products | $71.16M | 2024 |
| 16 | Rubber and rubber articles | $69.10M | 2024 |
| 17 | Fertilizers | $64.99M | 2024 |
| 18 | Miscellaneous edible preparations | $64.12M | 2024 |
| 19 | Tools, cutlery, base metal parts | $60.85M | 2024 |
| 20 | Copper and copper articles | $56.98M | 2024 |
| 21 | Inorganic chemicals, precious metal compounds, isotopes | $56.75M | 2024 |
| 22 | Mineral fuels, oils, waxes, bitumen | $44.90M | 2024 |
| 23 | Furniture, bedding, lighting, prefabricated buildings | $37.49M | 2024 |
| 24 | Beverages, spirits, vinegar | $30.06M | 2024 |
| 25 | Glues, enzymes, modified starches | $24.58M | 2024 |
| 26 | Ceramic products | $23.26M | 2024 |
| 27 | Articles of stone, cement, mica, asbestos | $22.93M | 2024 |
| 28 | Miscellaneous base metal articles | $20.40M | 2024 |
| 29 | Aluminium and aluminium articles | $19.67M | 2024 |
| 30 | Miscellaneous manufactured goods | $16.02M | 2024 |
| 31 | Technical textile fabrics, coated fabrics | $16.00M | 2024 |
| 32 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations | $14.52M | 2024 |
| 33 | Pearls, precious stones, metals, jewelry, coins | $14.38M | 2024 |
| 34 | Dairy, eggs, honey, other animal products | $11.86M | 2024 |
| 35 | Wood and wood products, charcoal | $11.09M | 2024 |
| 36 | Glass and glassware | $11.00M | 2024 |
| 37 | Food industry residues, animal feed | $8.72M | 2024 |
| 38 | Wadding, felt, twine, ropes, cords | $8.60M | 2024 |
| 39 | Railway locomotives, rolling stock, track equipment | $8.36M | 2024 |
| 40 | Sugar and confectionery | $8.16M | 2024 |
| 41 | Aircraft, spacecraft, parts | $7.93M | 2024 |
| 42 | Prepared meat, fish, crustaceans, insects | $7.42M | 2024 |
| 43 | Cereal, flour, starch, milk preparations, bakery | $7.20M | 2024 |
| 44 | Animal products | $6.67M | 2024 |
| 45 | Oilseeds, grains, fodder, medicinal plants | $6.64M | 2024 |
| 46 | Man-made staple fibres | $6.57M | 2024 |
| 47 | Nickel and nickel articles | $6.47M | 2024 |
| 48 | Other base metals, cermets | $6.43M | 2024 |
| 49 | Photographic and cinematographic goods | $5.59M | 2024 |
| 50 | Prepared vegetables, fruits, nuts | $5.55M | 2024 |
| 51 | Footwear and parts | $5.43M | 2024 |
| 52 | Cotton | $5.37M | 2024 |
| 53 | Printed books, newspapers, printed matter | $4.64M | 2024 |
| 54 | Salt, sulphur, stone, cement | $4.20M | 2024 |
| 55 | Milling products, malt, starch, inulin, wheat gluten | $3.80M | 2024 |
| 56 | Lac, gums, resins, vegetable extracts | $3.16M | 2024 |
| 57 | Other textile articles, worn clothing, rags | $2.65M | 2024 |
| 58 | Explosives, pyrotechnics, matches | $2.58M | 2024 |
| 59 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | $2.53M | 2024 |
| 60 | Tobacco, nicotine products and substitutes | $2.43M | 2024 |
| 61 | Man-made filaments | $2.37M | 2024 |
| 62 | Coffee, tea, mate, spices | $2.29M | 2024 |
| 63 | Toys, games, sports goods | $2.12M | 2024 |
| 64 | Zinc and zinc articles | $1.15M | 2024 |
| 65 | Pulp, recovered paper, paperboard | $1.15M | 2024 |
| 66 | Knitted or crocheted clothing | $1.04M | 2024 |
| 67 | Special woven fabrics, lace, embroidery | $980,691.15 | 2024 |
| 68 | Edible vegetables, roots, tubers | $966,848.48 | 2024 |
| 69 | Leather goods, bags, saddlery, travel goods | $838,090.85 | 2024 |
| 70 | Fats and oils, edible fats, waxes | $796,210.09 | 2024 |
| 71 | Meat and edible offal | $767,754.62 | 2024 |
| 72 | Works of art, antiques | $668,791.83 | 2024 |
| 73 | Live animals | $637,013.15 | 2024 |
| 74 | Headgear | $484,494.20 | 2024 |
| 75 | Musical instruments, parts | $383,575.85 | 2024 |
| 76 | Clocks, watches, parts | $370,780.66 | 2024 |
| 77 | Non-knitted clothing | $273,607.79 | 2024 |
| 78 | Tin and tin articles | $272,053.54 | 2024 |
| 79 | Raw hides, skins, leather | $257,997.69 | 2024 |
| 80 | Live plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers, foliage | $243,120.77 | 2024 |
| 81 | Edible fruits and nuts, citrus or melon peel | $233,479.23 | 2024 |
| 82 | Carpets and textile floor coverings | $223,560.14 | 2024 |
| 83 | Cork and cork products | $151,015.96 | 2024 |
| 84 | Lead and lead articles | $126,744.36 | 2024 |
| 85 | Ships, boats, floating structures | $58,658.98 | 2024 |
| 86 | Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates | $49,055.05 | 2024 |
| 87 | Umbrellas, canes, whips, riding crops | $45,174.78 | 2024 |
| 88 | Vegetable plaiting materials, other vegetable products | $31,028.03 | 2024 |
| 89 | Basketware, wickerwork, straw goods | $23,316.12 | 2024 |
| 90 | Wool and animal hair fabrics | $19,366.34 | 2024 |
| 91 | Feathers, down, artificial flowers, human hair goods | $11,599.34 | 2024 |
| 92 | Cereals | $4,385.15 | 2024 |
| 93 | Furskins and artificial fur | $4,337.93 | 2024 |
| 94 | Silk | $3,067.45 | 2024 |
| 95 | Ores, slag, ash | $1,761.65 | 2024 |
| 96 | Vegetable textile fibres, paper yarn | $1,645.20 | 2024 |
South Africa Imports from Germany (2000-2024)
The table below shows historical data for South Africa imports from Germany by year, expressed in Billion USD.
| Year | Import Value (Billion USD) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7.10 |
| 2023 | 8.68 |
| 2022 | 8.21 |
| 2021 | 7.54 |
| 2020 | 6.29 |
| 2019 | 8.69 |
| 2018 | 9.13 |
| 2017 | 9.57 |
| 2016 | 8.87 |
| 2015 | 9.60 |
| 2014 | 10.01 |
| 2013 | 10.70 |
| 2012 | 10.23 |
| 2011 | 10.68 |
| 2010 | 9.14 |
| 2009 | 7.44 |
| 2008 | 9.91 |
| 2007 | 9.32 |
| 2006 | 8.58 |
| 2005 | 7.72 |
| 2004 | 6.75 |
| 2003 | 5.11 |
| 2002 | 4.08 |
| 2001 | 3.77 |
| 2000 | 3.52 |