From a continental perspective, 45.1% of South Africa’s total imports by value in 2018 were purchased from Asian countries. European trade partners supplied 30.6% of imported bought by South Africa while 12.4% worth originated from fellow African nations. North American exporters accounted for 7% of South Africa’s imports with 2.6% coming from Latin America (excluding Mexico) plus the Caribbean, and 1.6% shipped from Oceania led by Australia.
Given South Africa’s population of 55.4 million people, its total $93.4 billion in 2018 imports translates to roughly $1,700 in yearly product demand from every person in the resources-rich South African country.
South Africa’s Top 10 Imports
Top 10
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in South Africa’s import purchases during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into South Africa.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$17 billion (18.2% of total imports)
- Machinery including computers: $11.5 billion (12.3%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $8.6 billion (9.2%)
- Vehicles: $7.1 billion (7.6%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $2.8 billion (3%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $2.5 billion (2.7%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $2.3 billion (2.4%)
- Other chemical goods: $1.7 billion (1.8%)
- Organic chemicals: $1.6 billion (1.7%)
- Inorganic chemicals: $1.6 billion (1.7%)
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more detailed view of imported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of South Africa’s Most Valuable Import Products further down near the bottom of this article or under the adjacent product folder tabs.
South Africa’s top 10 imports accounted for three-fifths (60.7%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Fastest-growing among the top 10 categories was mineral fuels including oil which gained 39.1% from 2017 to 2018.
In second place was South African exported inorganic chemicals which appreciated 26.8% year over year. In third place was organic chemicals which rose 16.4% then plastics including items made from plastic via its 14.3% increase.
Also see the section Searchable List of South Africa’s Most Valuable Import Products further down near the bottom of this article.
Fuel
In 2018, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Crude oil: US$10.8 billion (up 68.8% from 2017)
- Processed petroleum oils: $4.5 billion (up 2.2%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $541.8 million (up 13%)
- Petroleum gases: $426.8 million (up 30.4%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $266.1 million (up 5.6%)
- Electrical energy: $234 million (up 44.6%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $122.3 million (up 25.1%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $36.4 million (down -11.5%)
- Tar pitch, coke: $28.8 million (up 79.3%)
- Peat: $8.9 million (up 41.9%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of tar pitch and coke (up 79.3%), crude oil (up 68.8%) and electrical energy (up 44.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among South African businesses and consumers.
Machinery
In 2018, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$1.8 billion (up 13.2% from 2017)
- Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $760.5 million (up 6.9%)
- Printing machinery: $757 million (up 12.5%)
- Machinery parts: $614.7 million (up 8.9%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $469.4 million (down -0.6%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $454.3 million (up 11.9%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $439.6 million (up 16.4%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $401.4 million (up 15.9%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $388.7 million (up 2.3%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $311 million (down -0.8%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of liquid pumps and elevators (up 16.4%), miscellaneous machinery (up 15.9%) and computers including optical readers (up 13.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among South African businesses and consumers.
Electronics
In 2018, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics.
- Phone system devices including smartphones: US$3.4 billion (up 8.1% from 2017)
- Insulated wire/cable: $430.4 million (up 8.1%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $419.3 million (down -9.4%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $355.5 million (down -2.6%)
- TV/radio/radar device parts: $300.9 million (down -0.4%)
- Unrecorded sound media: $282.5 million (up 1.1%)
- Electric storage batteries: $280.4 million (up 29.9%)
- Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $279.2 million (up 8.9%)
- Electric motors, generators: $224 million (down -13%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $211.7 million (down -0.6%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of electric storage batteries (up 29.9%), electric water heaters and hair dryers (up 8.9%) then phone system devices including smartphones (up 8.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among South African businesses and consumers.
Vehicles
In 2018, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$3.9 billion (down -1% from 2017)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $1.5 billion (up 12%)
- Trucks: $844.3 million (up 7.4%)
- Tractors: $309.2 million (down -7.2%)
- Trailers: $108.1 million (up 10%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $91.2 million (down -14.9%)
- Motorcycles: $79.5 million (down -20.4%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $52 million (down -13.6%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $44 million (down -21.7%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $33.9 million (up 29.1%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of bicycles plus other non-motorized cycles (up 29.1%), automobile parts or accessories (up 12%) then trailers (up 10%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among South African businesses and consumers.
Searchable List of South Africa’s Most Valuable Import Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, the top South African import products are crude oil followed by refined petroleum oils, cars, smartphones then medication mixes in dosage.
The following searchable table displays 200 of South Africa’s most in-demand imported goods during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | South African Import | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crude oil | $10.8 billion | +68.8% |
| 2 | Processed petroleum oils | $4.5 billion | +2.2% |
| 3 | Cars | $3.9 billion | -1% |
| 4 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $3.4 billion | +8.1% |
| 5 | Medication mixes in dosage | $1.9 billion | +13% |
| 6 | Computers, optical readers | $1.8 billion | +13.2% |
| 7 | Automobile parts/accessories | $1.5 billion | +12% |
| 8 | Unused stamps (current or new issue) | $1.2 billion | +327% |
| 9 | Trucks | $844.3 million | +7.4% |
| 10 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $760.5 million | +6.9% |
| 11 | Printing machinery | $757 million | +12.5% |
| 12 | Aluminum oxide/hydroxide | $697.8 million | +36.5% |
| 13 | Rubber tires (new) | $689.1 million | +11.7% |
| 14 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $649.1 million | +26% |
| 15 | Machinery parts | $614.7 million | +8.9% |
| 16 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $609.8 million | +7.8% |
| 17 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $574.2 million | +0.5% |
| 18 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $541.8 million | +13% |
| 19 | Rice | $518.8 million | +1.1% |
| 20 | Poultry meat | $490.6 million | +2.1% |
| 21 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $472.6 million | -33.7% |
| 22 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $469.4 million | -0.6% |
| 23 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $458.2 million | +4% |
| 24 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $454.3 million | +11.9% |
| 25 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $439.6 million | +16.4% |
| 26 | Ethylene polymers | $432.5 million | +15.3% |
| 27 | Insulated wire/cable | $430.4 million | +8.1% |
| 28 | Petroleum gases | $426.8 million | +30.4% |
| 29 | Electrical converters/power units | $419.3 million | -9.4% |
| 30 | Wheat | $415 million | +26.6% |
| 31 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $406.5 million | +5.7% |
| 32 | Miscellaneous machinery | $401.4 million | +15.9% |
| 33 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $388.7 million | +2.3% |
| 34 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $355.5 million | -2.6% |
| 35 | Footwear (textile) | $353.5 million | +10.5% |
| 36 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $353.4 million | +11.5% |
| 37 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $347.2 million | +35% |
| 38 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $336.1 million | +5.7% |
| 39 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $333.1 million | +15.5% |
| 40 | Footwear (rubber or plastic) | $329.4 million | +7.1% |
| 41 | Nitrogenous fertilizers | $317.9 million | +9.7% |
| 42 | Air or vacuum pumps | $311 million | -0.8% |
| 43 | Coins | $309.9 million | +70321.8% |
| 44 | Tractors | $309.2 million | -7.2% |
| 45 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $306.9 million | -35.3% |
| 46 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $302.3 million | +8.9% |
| 47 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $300.9 million | -0.4% |
| 48 | Palm oil | $298.3 million | -9% |
| 49 | Orthopedic appliances | $294.6 million | +25.7% |
| 50 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $285.3 million | +14.9% |
| 51 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $283.3 million | +10.3% |
| 52 | Unrecorded sound media | $282.5 million | +1.1% |
| 53 | Electric storage batteries | $280.4 million | +29.9% |
| 54 | Copper wire | $280.2 million | -15.5% |
| 55 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $279.2 million | +8.9% |
| 56 | Gold (unwrought) | $277.1 million | -7.9% |
| 57 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $275.8 million | +36.2% |
| 58 | Coke, semi-coke | $266.1 million | +5.6% |
| 59 | Cellulose fiber paper | $264.2 million | +13.2% |
| 60 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $260.5 million | -0.9% |
| 61 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $253.2 million | +8.5% |
| 62 | Aircraft parts | $252.6 million | -1.2% |
| 63 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $242.2 million | +40.6% |
| 64 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $242 million | +24% |
| 65 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $240.2 million | +10.3% |
| 66 | Refrigerators, freezers | $239.1 million | +10.8% |
| 67 | Iron ferroalloys | $235.4 million | +53.4% |
| 68 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $235.1 million | -0.2% |
| 69 | Electrical energy | $234 million | +44.6% |
| 70 | Ceramic wares for technical uses | $224.2 million | +27% |
| 71 | Electric motors, generators | $224 million | -13% |
| 72 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $222.1 million | +11.9% |
| 73 | Coated paper | $221.5 million | +9.8% |
| 74 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $218.2 million | +14.3% |
| 75 | Ball, roller bearings | $214 million | +11.8% |
| 76 | Computer parts, accessories | $213.9 million | +9% |
| 77 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $211.7 million | -0.6% |
| 78 | Footwear (leather) | $211.4 million | +7.5% |
| 79 | Piston engine parts | $207.9 million | +2.1% |
| 80 | Fork-lift trucks | $206 million | +6.1% |
| 81 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $202 million | -2.2% |
| 82 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $201.5 million | +3.5% |
| 83 | Air conditioners | $200.6 million | +12.4% |
| 84 | Other food preparations | $199.9 million | +10.1% |
| 85 | Miscellaneous furniture | $194.7 million | +14.2% |
| 86 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $193.9 million | +4.3% |
| 87 | Carbon electrodes, brushes | $191.5 million | +212.8% |
| 88 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $186.6 million | +1.9% |
| 89 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $185.9 million | +14.7% |
| 90 | Engines (diesel) | $184.2 million | -9.1% |
| 91 | Anti-knock/oxidation/gum inhibitors | $182.1 million | +4.1% |
| 92 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $178 million | +18.9% |
| 93 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $177.8 million | +3.8% |
| 94 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $176.7 million | -0.3% |
| 95 | Whole fish (frozen) | $176.4 million | +21.8% |
| 96 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $166.7 million | +20.8% |
| 97 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $166.7 million | +16.5% |
| 98 | Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks | $166.1 million | +320.2% |
| 99 | Live bovine cattle | $165.5 million | +9.6% |
| 100 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $164.7 million | -19.4% |
| 101 | Soya-bean oil-cake, other solid residues | $163.4 million | -11.2% |
| 102 | Carbonates, percarbonates | $163.4 million | +1.9% |
| 103 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $162.9 million | -12.4% |
| 104 | Temperature-change machines | $162.7 million | -5.3% |
| 105 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $161.7 million | -25.5% |
| 106 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $161.6 million | +4.4% |
| 107 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $161.2 million | +8.2% |
| 108 | Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared) | $160.7 million | +30.2% |
| 109 | Malt beer | $160 million | +68% |
| 110 | Zinc (unwrought) | $158.4 million | -20.3% |
| 111 | Lifting/loading machinery | $156.7 million | -15.3% |
| 112 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $156.6 million | 0% |
| 113 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $154.7 million | +9.1% |
| 114 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $154.3 million | -10.1% |
| 115 | Other measuring/testing machines | $154 million | -17.3% |
| 116 | Vulcanized rubber items | $152.5 million | +6.8% |
| 117 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $152 million | +5.9% |
| 118 | Acyclic alcohols | $150.4 million | +32.4% |
| 119 | Move/grade/scrape/boring machinery | $146.5 million | +12.8% |
| 120 | Pneumatic hand tool | $146 million | +5.2% |
| 121 | Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving) | $144.9 million | +112.9% |
| 122 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $144.2 million | -7.7% |
| 123 | Polycarboxylic acids | $143 million | +81.8% |
| 124 | Unglazed ceramic flags, tiles, cubes | $142.9 million | +11.9% |
| 125 | Synthetic yarn woven fabrics | $141.4 million | +11.7% |
| 126 | Electrical machinery | $140.2 million | -1.2% |
| 127 | Unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco waste | $137.8 million | +7.1% |
| 128 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $136.7 million | +21% |
| 129 | Platinum (unwrought) | $136 million | +259.7% |
| 130 | Sports equipment | $135.7 million | +12.5% |
| 131 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $135.2 million | +12.9% |
| 132 | Industrial preparation machinery | $134.9 million | -3.3% |
| 133 | Styrene polymers | $134.7 million | +16.4% |
| 134 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $131.3 million | +11.2% |
| 135 | Regulate/control instruments | $131 million | +16.6% |
| 136 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $130.3 million | +13.1% |
| 137 | Fertilizer mixes | $129 million | +21.7% |
| 138 | Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners | $127.8 million | -0.4% |
| 139 | Potassic fertilizers | $127.2 million | +36.5% |
| 140 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $124.4 million | +10.7% |
| 141 | Table games, bowling equipment | $123.5 million | -11.8% |
| 142 | Turbo-jets | $122.8 million | -25.4% |
| 143 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $122.3 million | +19% |
| 144 | Petroleum oil residues | $122.3 million | +25.1% |
| 145 | Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil | $121.6 million | -17.4% |
| 146 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $121.6 million | -1.7% |
| 147 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $121.5 million | +6.1% |
| 148 | Animal guts, bladders, stomachs | $121.4 million | +3.9% |
| 149 | Sawn wood | $121.1 million | +12.6% |
| 150 | Acrylic polymers | $118.7 million | +11.9% |
| 151 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $118.1 million | +28.1% |
| 152 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $117 million | +3.5% |
| 153 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $116.9 million | +13.5% |
| 154 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $116.6 million | +9.1% |
| 155 | Miscellaneous heterocyclics | $113.4 million | +17.8% |
| 156 | Uncoated kraft paper | $111.3 million | +26.3% |
| 157 | Refractory ceramic bricks, blocks, tiles | $110.9 million | +72.2% |
| 158 | Printed books, brochures | $110.2 million | -2.2% |
| 159 | Sodium/potash hydroxide, peroxide | $109.8 million | +18% |
| 160 | Aluminum bars/rods | $108.6 million | -7.3% |
| 161 | Trailers | $108.1 million | +10% |
| 162 | X-ray equipment | $107.6 million | +4.7% |
| 163 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $107.6 million | -10.3% |
| 164 | Miscellaneous railway/tramway locomotives | $106 million | -5.8% |
| 165 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $105.2 million | -3.2% |
| 166 | Soya-bean oil | $104.4 million | -31.8% |
| 167 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $104 million | +22.3% |
| 168 | Fruit and vegetable juices | $103.4 million | +31.8% |
| 169 | Synthetic rubber | $102.1 million | +39.7% |
| 170 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $101.9 million | +4.4% |
| 171 | Cigars/cigarellos, cigarettes | $100.9 million | +9.1% |
| 172 | Print/write/draw inks | $100.2 million | -13.9% |
| 173 | Saturated acyclic mono acids | $97.8 million | +28.8% |
| 174 | Amino-resins | $96.5 million | +18.9% |
| 175 | Washing machines | $96.2 million | +17.1% |
| 176 | Coated/laminated non-wovens | $96.1 million | +4.8% |
| 177 | Paper/pulp/paperboard making machines | $95.2 million | +47.2% |
| 178 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $94.6 million | +7% |
| 179 | Filament/discharge lamps | $94.5 million | +12.8% |
| 180 | Non-sublimed sulphur | $93.2 million | +59.5% |
| 181 | Mixed alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes | $92.4 million | +20.6% |
| 182 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $92.3 million | +10.7% |
| 183 | Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates | $91.7 million | +12.3% |
| 184 | Public-transport vehicles | $91.2 million | -14.9% |
| 185 | Coffee | $90.3 million | -1.8% |
| 186 | Piston engines | $88.3 million | -5.9% |
| 187 | Synthetic filament yarn | $86.2 million | +11.8% |
| 188 | Precious metal compounds | $85.9 million | +174.4% |
| 189 | Steam/vapor turbines | $85.5 million | -23.4% |
| 190 | Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods | $85.4 million | +22.3% |
| 191 | Electric generating sets, converters | $85.3 million | -80.4% |
| 192 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $84.2 million | +1.8% |
| 193 | Metal sheeting joints, gaskets | $83.6 million | +16.4% |
| 194 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $83 million | +22.7% |
| 195 | Vulcanized rubber tubes, pipes | $82.1 million | +11.2% |
| 196 | Men's shirts (not knit or crochet) | $82 million | +2.4% |
| 197 | Provitamins, vitamins | $81.9 million | +38.3% |
| 198 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $80.7 million | -5.2% |
| 199 | Linens | $80.6 million | +18.5% |
| 200 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $80.4 million | +7.2% |
These 200 imported goods cost a subtotal of US$70.2 billion or three-quarters (75.2%) by value for all products imported into South Africa during 2018.
See also South Africa’s Top 10 Exports, Top South African Trading Partners and Top African Export Countries
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 3, 2019
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on February 3, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on February 3, 2019