The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in South Africa’s import purchases during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into South Africa.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$12.3 billion (14.7% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $11 billion (13.2%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $8.5 billion (10.2%)
4. Vehicles: $7.1 billion (8.5%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $2.5 billion (3%)
6. Pharmaceuticals: $2.2 billion (2.7%)
7. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $2.1 billion (2.6%)
8. Other chemical goods: $1.6 billion (1.9%)
9. Organic chemicals: $1.3 billion (1.6%)
10. Inorganic chemicals: $1.2 billion (1.5%)

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 almost three-fifths (59.8%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Fastest-growing among the top 10 categories was inorganic chemicals which gained 27.2% from 2016 to 2017.

In second place was South African exported vehicles which appreciated 22.1% year over year trailed by mineral fuels including oil which rose 22% then pharmaceuticals via its 18.5% increase.

Also see the section Searchable List of South Africa’s Most Valuable Import Products further down near the bottom of this article.

In 2017, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products:

1. Crude oil: US$6.4 billion (down -1.8% from 2016)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $4.4 billion (up 73.9%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $478.3 million (up 134%)
4. Petroleum gases: $328.1 million (up 22.4%)
5. Coke, semi-coke: $252.1 million (up 52.8%)
6. Electrical energy: $162.3 million (down -10.1%)
7. Petroleum oil residues: $97.6 million (up 47%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $41.1 million (down -15.3%)
9. Tar pitch, coke: $16 million (up 65.5%)
10. Peat: $6.3 million (up 7.9%)

Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 134%), processed petroleum oils (up 73.9%) and tar pitch or coke (up 65.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers:

1. Computers, optical readers: US$1.6 billion (up 7.8% from 2016)
2. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $712.9 million (up 67.7%)
3. Printing machinery: $673.4 million (up 7.2%)
4. Machinery parts: $565.1 million (up 15.3%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $471.9 million (up 10.3%)
6. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $405.5 million (up 0.9%)
7. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $380.2 million (up 18.2%)
8. Liquid pumps and elevators: $377.7 million (up 7%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $345.9 million (up 2.1%)
10. Air or vacuum pumps: $313.5 million (up 1.6%)

Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of heavy machinery like bulldozers, excavators and road rollers (up 67.7%), transmission shafts, gears and clutches (up 18.2%) and machinery parts (up 15.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics:

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$3.1 billion (up 5.1% from 2016)
2. Electrical converters/power units: $462.7 million (up 24.7%)
3. Electric generating sets, converters: $437.3 million (down -9.8%)
4. Insulated wire/cable: $399 million (up 9.4%)
5. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $365.6 million (up 2.7%)
6. TV/radio/radar device parts: $302.6 million (up 6.2%)
7. Unrecorded sound media: $279.8 million (up 9.6%)
8. Electric motors, generators: $257.4 million (up 0.5%)
9. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $256.3 million (up 3.6%)
10. Electric storage batteries: $216 million (up 39.2%)

Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of electric storage batteries (up 39.2%), electrical converters or power units (up 24.7%) and unrecorded sound media (up 9.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.

In 2017, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles:

1. Cars: US$4 billion (up 21% from 2016)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $1.4 billion (up 6.7%)
3. Trucks: $788 million (up 63.3%)
4. Tractors: $333.3 million (up 53%)
5. Public-transport vehicles: $108 million (up 12%)
6. Motorcycles: $100.7 million (up 9%)
7. Trailers: $98.9 million (up 33.5%)
8. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $60.1 million (up 3.1%)
9. Special purpose vehicles: $56.1 million (up 5.4%)
10. Armored vehicles, tanks: $43 million (up 47.3%)

Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of trucks (up 63.3%), tractors (up 53%) and armored vehicles and tanks (up 47.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2016 to 2017.

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.