That dollar amount reflects a -5.6% setback compared to $123.7 billion five years earlier during 2021.
Year over year, the overall value of South African exports rose 5.9% starting from $110.4 billion in 2024.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2025, the South African rand depreciated by -2.5% against the US dollar from 2024 to 2025. South Africa’s weaker local currency makes its exports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive for international buyers starting with American currency.
South Africa’s biggest export products by value in 2025 were platinum, gold, cars, trucks then iron ores and concentrates. In aggregate, those major exports generated over a third (35.2%) of overall exports sales from South Africa. That relatively high percentage suggests a concentrated set of exported goods.
South Africa places number one for exporting platinum, ranks among world-leading export nations for iron, and is a major competitor selling coal on international markets.
South Africa’s Best International Trade Customers
The latest available country-specific data shows that 61.6% of products exported from South Africa was bought by importers in: mainland China (11.0% of the South African total), Germany (7.9%), United States of America (7.1%), Japan (4.7%), United Kingdom (4.6%), Mozambique (4.5%), India (4%), Netherlands (3.7%), Namibia (3.56%), Belgium (3.55%), Botswana (3.53%) and Zimbabwe (3.49%).
From a continental perspective, 32.7% of South African exports by value was delivered to Asian countries while 29.3% was sold to fellow African importers. South Africa shipped another 27.4% worth of goods to customers in Europe.
Smaller percentages went to buyers in North America (8.6%), Oceania led by Australia (1.2%) then Latin America (0.8%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
Given South Africa’s population of 64.1 million people, its total US$116.8 billion in 2025 exports translates to roughly $1,825 for every resident in the relatively wealthy African nation. That per-capita amount surpasses the average $1,750 one year earlier in 2024.
South Africa’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in South African global shipments during 2025. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from South Africa.
- Gems, precious metals: US$23.7 billion (20.3% of total exports)
- Ores, slag, ash: $18.1 billion (15.5%)
- Vehicles: $15.3 billion (13.1%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $9.5 billion (8.1%)
- Fruits, nuts: $6 billion (5.1%)
- Machinery including computers: $5.9 billion (5%)
- Iron, steel: $3.5 billion (3%)
- Aluminum: $2.4 billion (2.1%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $2.4 billion (2%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $1.6 billion (1.4%)
South Africa’s top 10 export product categories garnered over three-quarters (75.6%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Fruits and nuts represent the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 21.6% from 2024 to 2025.
In second place for improving export sales were vehicles, advancing by 21.4% led by cars.
South Africa’s shipments of gems and precious metals posted the third-fastest gain in value, up by 15.2% year over year.
The leading decliner among South Africa’s top 10 export categories were the metals iron and steel via a -40.2% retreat.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section below.
Searchable List of South Africa’s Most Valuable Export Products
The following searchable table displays 100 of the most in-demand goods shipped from South Africa during 2025. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2024.
| Rank | South African Export | Value (US$) | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Platinum (unwrought) | $11,855,390,000 | +19% |
| 2 | Gold (unwrought) | $9,180,187,000 | +12.3% |
| 3 | Cars | $7,720,047,000 | +36.1% |
| 4 | Trucks | $6,247,807,000 | +13.5% |
| 5 | Iron ores, concentrates | $6,136,323,000 | -3.2% |
| 6 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $5,535,623,000 | -12.1% |
| 7 | Chromium ores, concentrates | $5,230,352,000 | +12% |
| 8 | Manganese ores, concentrates | $3,291,022,000 | +6.4% |
| 9 | Fresh or dried citrus fruit | $2,528,931,000 | +39.8% |
| 10 | Processed petroleum oils | $2,398,384,000 | -19.2% |
| 11 | Iron ferroalloys | $2,064,188,000 | -50.7% |
| 12 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $1,780,066,000 | +16.4% |
| 13 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $1,677,056,000 | -0.4% |
| 14 | Precious metal ores, concentrates | $1,476,823,000 | +47.2% |
| 15 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $1,187,444,000 | -6.3% |
| 16 | Grapes (fresh or dried) | $1,128,819,000 | +10.9% |
| 17 | Electrical energy | $1,092,066,000 | +41% |
| 18 | Chemical woodpulp (dissolving) | $989,438,000 | -7% |
| 19 | Apples, pears (fresh) | $922,022,000 | +12.2% |
| 20 | Corn | $757,621,000 | -12.2% |
| 21 | Automobile parts/accessories | $662,788,000 | -4.2% |
| 22 | Wine | $632,219,000 | -2.5% |
| 23 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $601,261,000 | +21.3% |
| 24 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $536,937,000 | +14.2% |
| 25 | Nickel (unwrought) | $534,492,000 | -3.6% |
| 26 | Miscellaneous nuts | $531,338,000 | +13.7% |
| 27 | Niobium/zirconium ores, concentrates | $526,296,000 | -13.8% |
| 28 | Machinery parts | $498,844,000 | +6.7% |
| 29 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $462,301,000 | +6.8% |
| 30 | Titanium ores, concentrates | $452,456,000 | -23.5% |
| 31 | Unrefined copper | $451,493,000 | +17.4% |
| 32 | Coins | $443,748,000 | +56.9% |
| 33 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $431,243,000 | +5.6% |
| 34 | Zinc ores, concentrates | $411,191,000 | +39.5% |
| 35 | Medication mixes in dosage | $409,665,000 | +10.5% |
| 36 | Fruit and vegetable juices | $400,279,000 | -4.7% |
| 37 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $395,092,000 | +11.2% |
| 38 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $381,903,000 | +12.4% |
| 39 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $366,996,000 | +25.6% |
| 40 | Sulphates, alums | $364,574,000 | +21.4% |
| 41 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $351,032,000 | -10.8% |
| 42 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $331,064,000 | +14.2% |
| 43 | Nitrogenous fertilizers | $324,392,000 | +12% |
| 44 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $321,871,000 | +11% |
| 45 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $314,353,000 | -1.3% |
| 46 | Miscellaneous fruits (fresh) | $310,774,000 | +17.3% |
| 47 | Phone system devices | $302,546,000 | +4% |
| 48 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $297,098,000 | -9% |
| 49 | Wool (uncarded, uncombed) | $288,898,000 | +14.4% |
| 50 | Rubber tires (new) | $281,576,000 | +1.1% |
| 51 | Other food preparations | $279,773,000 | +16.7% |
| 52 | Insulated wire/cable | $269,812,000 | +15.9% |
| 53 | Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels | $269,404,000 | +0.1% |
| 54 | Aircraft or spacecraft parts | $258,206,000 | +20.5% |
| 55 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $247,947,000 | +12.9% |
| 56 | Fuel wood, wood chips, sawdust | $245,922,000 | +20.8% |
| 57 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $245,654,000 | +2.8% |
| 58 | Natural calcium phospates | $245,131,000 | +15.4% |
| 59 | Granulated iron or steel slag | $244,662,000 | -5.6% |
| 60 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $243,269,000 | +3.3% |
| 61 | Apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums | $240,732,000 | +34.7% |
| 62 | Sauces, mixes condiments, seasonings | $233,211,000 | +16.3% |
| 63 | Acyclic alcohols | $229,565,000 | -11.8% |
| 64 | Fruits, nuts and other edible parts of plants, prepared or preserved, whether or not containing ... | $229,563,000 | +11% |
| 65 | Feldspar, leucite, nepheline | $226,057,000 | +8.8% |
| 66 | Piston engine parts | $222,875,000 | -6.8% |
| 67 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $222,742,000 | +9.6% |
| 68 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $218,547,000 | +6.1% |
| 69 | Dates/figs/pineapples/mangoes/avocadoes/guavas | $214,525,000 | -20.2% |
| 70 | Trailers | $213,867,000 | +1.3% |
| 71 | Tractors | $211,608,000 | -1.7% |
| 72 | Fish fillets, pieces | $210,852,000 | +35.6% |
| 73 | Copper ores, concentrates | $210,723,000 | -6.8% |
| 74 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $208,736,000 | +0.8% |
| 75 | Ethylene polymers | $206,420,000 | +17.7% |
| 76 | Pig iron | $197,707,000 | -21.1% |
| 77 | Computers, optical readers | $197,261,000 | -2.7% |
| 78 | Petroleum gases | $194,859,000 | +10.9% |
| 79 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $190,385,000 | +7% |
| 80 | Jewelry | $189,830,000 | +0.1% |
| 81 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $189,568,000 | +2.1% |
| 82 | Organic surface-active products, soap | $187,978,000 | -1.3% |
| 83 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $187,966,000 | +4.4% |
| 84 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $183,711,000 | +36.1% |
| 85 | Ethyl alcohol | $176,965,000 | +5.9% |
| 86 | Flat-rolled stainless steel items | $173,375,000 | +109.7% |
| 87 | Electrical converters/power units | $169,082,000 | -2.9% |
| 88 | Cereal groats, meal and pellets | $165,343,000 | -24.3% |
| 89 | Other fermented beverages | $162,473,000 | +12.1% |
| 90 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $162,229,000 | +15.9% |
| 91 | Whole fish (frozen) | $160,608,000 | +44.4% |
| 92 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $159,630,000 | -23.5% |
| 93 | Electric storage batteries | $156,637,000 | -5.9% |
| 94 | Refrigerators, freezers | $153,131,000 | -4.8% |
| 95 | Regulate/control instruments | $152,495,000 | +680.4% |
| 96 | Miscellaneous machinery | $152,109,000 | +21.3% |
| 97 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $147,511,000 | +26.1% |
| 98 | Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners | $146,484,000 | +18.5% |
| 99 | Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes | $145,716,000 | -6% |
| 100 | Uncoated kraft paper | $145,654,000 | -2% |
This cohort of 100 exported South African goods were worth a subtotal of US$95.1 billion or 81.4% by value for all products exported from South Africa during 2025.
Products Generating the Greatest Trade Surpluses for South Africa
South Africa generated an overall US$11.9 billion trade surplus for 2025, expanding by 29.8% from the $9.1 billion in black ink one year earlier in 2024.
The following types of South African product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Gems, precious metals: US$21.7 billion (Up by 15.6% since 2024)
- Ores, slag, ash: $18 billion (Up by 5.2%)
- Vehicles: $6.5 billion (Up by 19.4%)
- Fruits, nuts: $5.8 billion (Up by 21.8%)
- Iron, steel: $1.9 billion (Down by -52.6%)
- Aluminum: $1.7 billion (Up by 14%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $963.1 million (Up by 15.9%)
- Woodpulp: $951.2 million (Down by -6.6%)
- Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $614.3 million (Up by 13.1%)
- Nickel: $535.6 million (Down by -1%)
Historically, South Africa has highly positive net exports in the international trade of platinum, gold and diamonds. In turn, these cashflows indicate South Africa’s strong competitive advantages under the gems and precious metals product category.
Products Causing the Biggest Trade Deficits for South Africa
Below are exports from South Africa that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country South Africa’s goods trail South African importer spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: -US$9 billion (Down by -0.6% since 2024)
- Machinery including computers: -$8.14 billion (Up by 12.3%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$8.06 billion (Up by 6.6%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$1.95 billion (Up by 3.4%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$1.8 billion (Down by -0.7%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: -$1.3 billion (Down by -8.5%)
- Other chemical goods: -$1 billion (Down by -2%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$868.3 million (Up by 12.7%)
- Rubber, rubber articles: -$842.6 million (Down by -4.7%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: -$814.1 million (Up by 89.5%)
South Africa has negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits notably for coal and oil under the mineral fuels-related product category.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate South Africa’s competitive disadvantages in the mineral fuels market, but also represent key opportunities for South Africa to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations.
Major South African Export Companies
Fifteen South African corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below are major South African companies involved in international trade.
- Aspen Pharmacare Holdings (pharmaceuticals)
- Bidvest Group (industrials conglomerate)
- MTN Group (telecommunications)
- Naspers (broadcasting, cable)
- Remgro (industrials conglomerate)
- Sasol (diversified chemicals)
- Steinhoff International (furniture)
In macroeconomic terms, South Africa’s total exported goods represent 11.4% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2025 ($1.025 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 11.4% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2025 exceeds the 11.1% one year earlier. Those percentages suggest an increasing reliance on products sold on international markets for South Africa’s total economic performance, albeit based on a short timeframe.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. South Africa’s unemployment rate averaged 32.782% for 2025, slightly down from an average 32.8% for 2024 according to International Monetary Fund statistics.
See also South Africa’s Top 10 Imports, Top South African Trading Partners and Top African Export Countries
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on February 17, 2026
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on February 17, 2026
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 17, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 17, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 17, 2026
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on February 17, 2026
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on February 17, 2026
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on February 17, 2026
Wikipedia, South Africa. Accessed on February 17, 2026
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: South African Rand to US Dollar (monthly average 2025). Accessed on February 23, 2025