South Africa exported US$116.8 billion worth of products around the globe in 2025. That dollar amount results from a -5.6% decrease compared to $123.7 billion five years earlier during 2021.
Year over year, the overall value of South African exports grew 5.9% starting from $110.4 billion in 2024.
Applying a continental lens, almost a third (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.
South Africa’s population is about 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 Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 25 of South Africa’s top trading partners in terms of its export sales. That is, countries that imported the most South African shipments by dollar value during 2025. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total South African exports (adjusted for the non-attributed percentage in the source data).
- mainland China: US$12.8 billion (12.3% of total South African exports)
- Germany: $9.2 billion (8.3%)
- United States: $8.3 billion (7.7%)
- Japan: $5.5 billion (6.1%)
- United Kingdom: $5.4 billion (5.7%)
- Mozambique: $5.2 billion (5.2%)
- India: $4.7 billion (5%)
- Netherlands: $4.3 billion (4.2%)
- Namibia: $4.16 billion (4.1%)
- Belgium: $4.15 billion (3.7%)
- Botswana: $4.13 billion (3.3%)
- Zimbabwe: $4.07 billion (3.3%)
- Zambia: $3.5 billion (2.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $3 billion (2.5%)
- Hong Kong: $1.86 billion (2%)
- Eswatini: $1.82 billion (1.6%)
- Lesotho: $1.53 billion (1.6%)
- South Korea: $1.45 billion (1.5%)
- Spain: $1.45 billion (1.5%)
- Democratic Republic Congo: $1.41 billion (1.3%)
- Australia: $1.1 billion (1.1%)
- Italy: $881 million (1%)
- France: $790.8 million (0.9%)
- Singapore: $756.4 million (0.7%)
- Kenya: $622 million (0.7%)
Almost eight-tenths (78.8%) of South African exports in 2025 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.
Posting the strongest percentage increases among the top buyers of South African exports were France (up 42.2% from 2024), Belgium (up 36.9%), Hong Kong (up 36.8%), Germany (up 26.5%) and Zambia (up 13.8%).
Recording the year-over-year declines were the following among South Africa’s trading partners: Mozambique (down -20.2% from 2024), South Korea (down -12.5%), Botswana (down -4.7%) and India (down -1.3%).
Countries Causing the Greatest Deficits for South Africa
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
South Africa incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- mainland China: -US$10.8 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2025)
- Oman: -$3.4 billion
- Thailand: -$3.02 billion
- India: -$2.96 billion
- Saudi Arabia: -$2.7 billion
- Italy: -$1.5 billion
- Poland: -$1.4 billion
- Brazil: -$1.24 billion
- Nigeria: -$1.15 billion
- France: -$1.14 billion
Among South Africa’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, South African deficits with Saudi Arabia (up 29.6%), Oman (up 17%) and mainland China (up 15%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate South Africa’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for South Africa to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating the Biggest Surpluses for South Africa
South Africa snagged an overall US$11.9 billion trade surplus for 2025, growing by 29.8% from the $9.15 billion in black ink one year prior in 2024.
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
South Africa incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.
- Mozambique: US$4.3 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2025)
- United Kingdom: $3.9 billion
- Botswana: $3.7 billion
- Zimbabwe: $3.6 billion
- Zambia: $3.21 billion
- Netherlands: $3.15 billion
- Belgium: $3.09 billion
- Japan: $3.08 billion
- Namibia: $2.6 billion
- Germany: $2 billion
Among South Africa’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, South African surpluses with Germany (up 888.9%), Belgium (up 63.7%) and Japan (up 19.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate South Africa’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for South Africa to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Major South African Export Companies
Fifteen South African corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major South African companies that Forbes included.
- Aspen Pharmacare Holdings (pharmaceuticals)
- Bidvest Group (industrials conglomerate)
- MTN Group (telecommunications)
- Naspers (broadcasting, cable)
- Remgro (industrials conglomerate)
- Sasol (diversified chemicals)
- Steinhoff International (furniture)
See also South Africa’s Top 10 Imports, South Africa’s Top 10 Exports and Top African Export Countries
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on February 21, 2026
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on February 21, 2026
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 21, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 21, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 21, 2026
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on February 21, 2026
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on February 21, 2026
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on February 21, 2026
Wikipedia, South Africa. Accessed on February 21, 2026