United Kingdom Imports from South Africa
The United Kingdom's imports from South Africa rose to $12.94 billion in 2024, up from $9.11 billion in 2023, according to the UN Comtrade Database. This represents an increase of 42% ($3.83 billion) from the previous year. Top imports for the United Kingdom from South Africa were Pearls, precious stones, metals, jewelry, coins ($8.65 billion), Vehicles other than railway or tramway ($1.94 billion), Edible fruits and nuts and citrus or ($806.68 million).
United Kingdom had a trade deficit with South Africa that widened to $10.99 billion in 2024 from $7.01 billion in 2023. This is an increase of 56.9% ($3.98 billion).
United Kingdom Imports from South Africa by Goods (2024)
The table below shows the ranking of UK imports from South Africa by goods in 2024, highlighting the top imported goods.
| Import Rank | Imported Goods | Import Value (USD) ↓ | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pearls, precious stones, metals, jewelry, coins | $8.65B | 2024 |
| 2 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway and parts | $1.94B | 2024 |
| 3 | Edible fruits and nuts, citrus or melon peel | $806.68M | 2024 |
| 4 | Ores, slag, ash | $518.84M | 2024 |
| 5 | Beverages, spirits, vinegar | $193.59M | 2024 |
| 6 | Aluminium and aluminium articles | $103.03M | 2024 |
| 7 | Iron and steel | $80.03M | 2024 |
| 8 | Machinery, mechanical appliances, reactors | $62.04M | 2024 |
| 9 | Sugar and confectionery | $48.46M | 2024 |
| 10 | Mineral fuels, oils, waxes, bitumen | $46.25M | 2024 |
| 11 | Electrical machinery and equipment; audio and video equipment | $41.94M | 2024 |
| 12 | Prepared vegetables, fruits, nuts | $34.74M | 2024 |
| 13 | Essential oils, perfumery, cosmetics | $31.13M | 2024 |
| 14 | Plastics and plastic articles | $30.17M | 2024 |
| 15 | Pulp, recovered paper, paperboard | $29.83M | 2024 |
| 16 | Organic chemicals | $21.89M | 2024 |
| 17 | Wood and wood products, charcoal | $21.36M | 2024 |
| 18 | Edible vegetables, roots, tubers | $18.10M | 2024 |
| 19 | Miscellaneous edible preparations | $16.03M | 2024 |
| 20 | Works of art, antiques | $15.88M | 2024 |
| 21 | Fats and oils, edible fats, waxes | $15.81M | 2024 |
| 22 | Articles of iron or steel | $15.02M | 2024 |
| 23 | Rubber and rubber articles | $14.59M | 2024 |
| 24 | Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates | $12.57M | 2024 |
| 25 | Optical, medical, measuring instruments | $12.22M | 2024 |
| 26 | Aircraft, spacecraft, parts | $12.10M | 2024 |
| 27 | Inorganic chemicals, precious metal compounds, isotopes | $11.12M | 2024 |
| 28 | Miscellaneous chemical products | $10.67M | 2024 |
| 29 | Paper, paperboard and articles | $7.13M | 2024 |
| 30 | Nickel and nickel articles | $7.01M | 2024 |
| 31 | Salt, sulphur, stone, cement | $6.94M | 2024 |
| 32 | Glues, enzymes, modified starches | $6.80M | 2024 |
| 33 | Live plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers, foliage | $6.70M | 2024 |
| 34 | Coffee, tea, mate, spices | $6.62M | 2024 |
| 35 | Wadding, felt, twine, ropes, cords | $5.21M | 2024 |
| 36 | Pharmaceutical products | $4.84M | 2024 |
| 37 | Cereals | $4.83M | 2024 |
| 38 | Other textile articles, worn clothing, rags | $4.33M | 2024 |
| 39 | Furniture, bedding, lighting, prefabricated buildings | $4.07M | 2024 |
| 40 | Cereal, flour, starch, milk preparations, bakery | $3.97M | 2024 |
| 41 | Wool and animal hair fabrics | $3.68M | 2024 |
| 42 | Articles of stone, cement, mica, asbestos | $3.54M | 2024 |
| 43 | Oilseeds, grains, fodder, medicinal plants | $3.42M | 2024 |
| 44 | Glass and glassware | $3.22M | 2024 |
| 45 | Milling products, malt, starch, inulin, wheat gluten | $3.17M | 2024 |
| 46 | Man-made staple fibres | $2.98M | 2024 |
| 47 | Dyes, pigments, tanning extracts, paints, inks | $2.93M | 2024 |
| 48 | Non-knitted clothing | $2.92M | 2024 |
| 49 | Prepared meat, fish, crustaceans, insects | $2.83M | 2024 |
| 50 | Miscellaneous base metal articles | $2.81M | 2024 |
| 51 | Printed books, newspapers, printed matter | $2.78M | 2024 |
| 52 | Railway locomotives, rolling stock, track equipment | $2.77M | 2024 |
| 53 | Knitted or crocheted clothing | $2.65M | 2024 |
| 54 | Miscellaneous manufactured goods | $2.47M | 2024 |
| 55 | Toys, games, sports goods | $2.31M | 2024 |
| 56 | Explosives, pyrotechnics, matches | $2.19M | 2024 |
| 57 | Ceramic products | $2.17M | 2024 |
| 58 | Food industry residues, animal feed | $1.64M | 2024 |
| 59 | Other base metals, cermets | $1.58M | 2024 |
| 60 | Ships, boats, floating structures | $1.34M | 2024 |
| 61 | Tools, cutlery, base metal parts | $1.05M | 2024 |
| 62 | Soap, detergents, waxes, candles, dental products | $917,213.00 | 2024 |
| 63 | Leather goods, bags, saddlery, travel goods | $878,110.04 | 2024 |
| 64 | Lac, gums, resins, vegetable extracts | $856,138.01 | 2024 |
| 65 | Copper and copper articles | $584,630.49 | 2024 |
| 66 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations | $449,883.77 | 2024 |
| 67 | Fertilizers | $416,499.57 | 2024 |
| 68 | Unspecified commodities | $377,649.01 | 2024 |
| 69 | Headgear | $365,830.99 | 2024 |
| 70 | Feathers, down, artificial flowers, human hair goods | $361,840.92 | 2024 |
| 71 | Footwear and parts | $332,951.58 | 2024 |
| 72 | Live animals | $299,172.95 | 2024 |
| 73 | Animal products | $284,550.72 | 2024 |
| 74 | Carpets and textile floor coverings | $209,337.99 | 2024 |
| 75 | Raw hides, skins, leather | $209,095.74 | 2024 |
| 76 | Special woven fabrics, lace, embroidery | $181,346.61 | 2024 |
| 77 | Basketware, wickerwork, straw goods | $162,290.40 | 2024 |
| 78 | Technical textile fabrics, coated fabrics | $128,284.74 | 2024 |
| 79 | Arms, ammunition, parts | $98,357.93 | 2024 |
| 80 | Umbrellas, canes, whips, riding crops | $87,650.95 | 2024 |
| 81 | Cotton | $77,991.57 | 2024 |
| 82 | Clocks, watches, parts | $67,373.36 | 2024 |
| 83 | Vegetable plaiting materials, other vegetable products | $67,001.75 | 2024 |
| 84 | Lead and lead articles | $64,769.54 | 2024 |
| 85 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics | $56,520.52 | 2024 |
| 86 | Musical instruments, parts | $45,043.67 | 2024 |
| 87 | Meat and edible offal | $44,928.26 | 2024 |
| 88 | Vegetable textile fibres, paper yarn | $23,189.60 | 2024 |
| 89 | Cork and cork products | $17,161.37 | 2024 |
| 90 | Man-made filaments | $16,680.68 | 2024 |
| 91 | Zinc and zinc articles | $13,861.25 | 2024 |
| 92 | Tobacco, nicotine products and substitutes | $9,593.42 | 2024 |
| 93 | Furskins and artificial fur | $5,668.03 | 2024 |
| 94 | Silk | $4,625.49 | 2024 |
United Kingdom Imports from South Africa (2000-2024)
The table below shows historical data for UK imports from South Africa by year, expressed in Billion USD.
| Year | Import Value (Billion USD) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 12.94 |
| 2023 | 9.11 |
| 2022 | 7.97 |
| 2021 | 10.51 |
| 2020 | 7.69 |
| 2019 | 8.46 |
| 2018 | 8.05 |
| 2017 | 8.38 |
| 2016 | 9.79 |
| 2015 | 5.90 |
| 2014 | 6.03 |
| 2013 | 4.73 |
| 2012 | 9.94 |
| 2011 | 10.33 |
| 2010 | 9.57 |
| 2009 | 11.84 |
| 2008 | 14.58 |
| 2007 | 10.56 |
| 2006 | 9.44 |
| 2005 | 7.38 |
| 2004 | 8.09 |
| 2003 | 7.49 |
| 2002 | 6.27 |
| 2001 | 6.61 |
| 2000 | 5.09 |