That dollar amount reflects a 28.9% gain compared to $85.7 billion five years earlier during 2020.
Year over year, the overall value of South African exports flatlined via a -0.2% dip from $110.7 billion in 2023.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the South African rand appreciated by 0.6% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. South Africa’s stronger local currency makes its exports paid for in slightly weaker US dollars relatively more expensive for international buyers.
South Africa’s biggest export products by value in 2024 were platinum, gold, iron ores and concentrates, coal and cars. In aggregate, those major exports accounted for about a third (33%) 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 62.2% of products exported from South Africa was bought by importers in: mainland China (11.2% of the South African total), United States of America (7.5%), Germany (6.6%), Mozambique (5.9%), United Kingdom (4.8%), Japan (4.4%), India (4.3%), Botswana (3.92%), Netherlands (3.87%), Namibia (3.5%), Zimbabwe (3.4%) and Zambia (2.8%).
From a continental perspective, 33% of South African exports by value was delivered to Asian countries while 30.9% was sold to fellow African importers. South Africa shipped another 25.1% worth of goods to customers in Europe.
Smaller percentages went to buyers in North America (8.9%), Oceania (1.2%) led by Australia, then Latin America (0.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
Given South Africa’s population of 63.2 million people, its total $110.5 billion in 2024 exports translates to roughly $1,750 for every resident in the relatively wealthy African nation. That per-capita amount lags the average $1,800 one year earlier in 2023.
South Africa’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in South African global shipments during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from South Africa.
- Gems, precious metals: US$20.6 billion (18.7% of total exports)
- Ores, slag, ash: $17.2 billion (15.6%)
- Vehicles: $12.6 billion (11.4%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $10.6 billion (9.6%)
- Iron, steel: $5.8 billion (5.2%)
- Machinery including computers: $5.7 billion (5.1%)
- Fruits, nuts: $4.9 billion (4.5%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $2.3 billion (2.1%)
- Aluminum: $2.2 billion (2%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $1.5 billion (1.4%)
South Africa’s top 10 export product categories generated over three-quarters (75.5%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Electrical machinery and equipment was the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 15.2% from 2023 to 2024.
In second place for improving export sales was fruits and nuts which rose 13.6%, partially driven by higher revenues for fresh or dried grapes.
South Africa’s shipments of beverages, spirits and vinegar posted the third-fastest gain in value, up by 9.2%.
The leading decliner among South Africa’s top 10 export categories was the iron and steel category, which fell -11.4% year over year.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section below.
Searchable List of South Africa’s Most Valuable Export Products
The following searchable table displays 100 of the most in-demand goods shipped from South Africa during 2024. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2023.
| Rank | South African Export | Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Platinum (unwrought) | $9,974,418,000 | -7% |
| 2 | Gold (unwrought) | $8,206,213,000 | +45.8% |
| 3 | Iron ores, concentrates | $6,322,301,000 | -3.3% |
| 4 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $6,298,648,000 | -20% |
| 5 | Cars | $5,675,402,000 | +5% |
| 6 | Trucks | $5,514,767,000 | -7.7% |
| 7 | Chromium ores, concentrates | $4,674,031,000 | +18.4% |
| 8 | Iron ferroalloys | $4,172,403,000 | -10.1% |
| 9 | Manganese ores, concentrates | $3,095,749,000 | +16.1% |
| 10 | Processed petroleum oils | $2,963,927,000 | +0.4% |
| 11 | Fresh or dried citrus fruit | $1,830,266,000 | -1.9% |
| 12 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $1,685,938,000 | -18% |
| 13 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $1,529,635,000 | -3.4% |
| 14 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $1,266,011,000 | -29.4% |
| 15 | Chemical woodpulp (dissolving) | $1,064,762,000 | +1.9% |
| 16 | Precious metal ores, concentrates | $1,002,417,000 | -11.4% |
| 17 | Grapes (fresh or dried) | $998,676,000 | +39.8% |
| 18 | Corn | $864,032,000 | -28.5% |
| 19 | Apples, pears (fresh) | $815,832,000 | +19.5% |
| 20 | Electrical energy | $780,087,000 | +27.8% |
| 21 | Automobile parts/accessories | $692,315,000 | -1.9% |
| 22 | Wine | $649,582,000 | +4.7% |
| 23 | Niobium/zirconium ores, concentrates | $609,692,000 | +11.9% |
| 24 | Titanium ores, concentrates | $591,534,000 | +3.5% |
| 25 | Nickel (unwrought) | $553,552,000 | -25.1% |
| 26 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $495,158,000 | +0.6% |
| 27 | Miscellaneous nuts | $473,833,000 | +20.4% |
| 28 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $471,809,000 | -9.3% |
| 29 | Machinery parts | $467,466,000 | -2.8% |
| 30 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $434,506,000 | +1.4% |
| 31 | Fruit and vegetable juices | $423,566,000 | +26.4% |
| 32 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $406,147,000 | -2.9% |
| 33 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $393,475,000 | -17.7% |
| 34 | Unrefined copper | $386,002,000 | +4.8% |
| 35 | ALERT! | $374,506,000 | +23.7% |
| 36 | Medication mixes in dosage | $371,221,000 | +13.9% |
| 37 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $356,093,000 | +16.2% |
| 38 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $340,172,000 | +6.6% |
| 39 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $326,168,000 | -6.2% |
| 40 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $318,858,000 | +1.9% |
| 41 | Sulphates, alums | $301,231,000 | +11.7% |
| 42 | Zinc ores, concentrates | $297,263,000 | -5.5% |
| 43 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $292,981,000 | +31.8% |
| 44 | Phone system devices | $290,916,000 | +10.7% |
| 45 | Nitrogenous fertilizers | $290,678,000 | -6.9% |
| 46 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $290,529,000 | -6.7% |
| 47 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $290,009,000 | -14.4% |
| 48 | Coins | $285,058,000 | -51.4% |
| 49 | Rubber tires (new) | $278,546,000 | -0.4% |
| 50 | Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels | $269,613,000 | -5.4% |
| 51 | Miscellaneous fruits (fresh) | $269,257,000 | +4.6% |
| 52 | Dates/figs/pineapples/mangoes/avocadoes/guavas | $267,207,000 | +44.5% |
| 53 | Acyclic alcohols | $260,117,000 | +16.1% |
| 54 | Granulated iron or steel slag | $258,489,000 | +28.4% |
| 55 | Wool (uncarded, uncombed) | $251,602,000 | -11.3% |
| 56 | Pig iron | $249,317,000 | +6.7% |
| 57 | Piston engine parts | $240,227,000 | -0.5% |
| 58 | Other food preparations | $240,208,000 | +12.5% |
| 59 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $239,618,000 | -6.7% |
| 60 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $234,967,000 | -10.9% |
| 61 | Insulated wire/cable | $233,127,000 | +3.5% |
| 62 | Copper ores, concentrates | $226,851,000 | +2.3% |
| 63 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $226,487,000 | +12.9% |
| 64 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $220,158,000 | +10.7% |
| 65 | Cereal groats, meal and pellets | $217,580,000 | +29.3% |
| 66 | Tractors | $215,987,000 | -2.5% |
| 67 | Aircraft or spacecraft parts | $214,856,000 | +5.7% |
| 68 | Natural calcium phospates | $211,542,000 | +15% |
| 69 | Trailers | $211,151,000 | -8.6% |
| 70 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $209,524,000 | -8.8% |
| 71 | Feldspar, leucite, nepheline | $207,810,000 | +29.1% |
| 72 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $207,653,000 | -12.7% |
| 73 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits | $206,476,000 | -1.1% |
| 74 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $206,287,000 | -5.6% |
| 75 | Fuel wood, wood chips, sawdust | $203,377,000 | +9.9% |
| 76 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $203,317,000 | +8% |
| 77 | Computers, optical readers | $202,970,000 | -14.7% |
| 78 | Sauces, mixes condiments, seasonings | $201,084,000 | +12.9% |
| 79 | Organic surface-active products, soap | $190,728,000 | -2.9% |
| 80 | Jewelry | $189,747,000 | -18.5% |
| 81 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $185,928,000 | -1.5% |
| 82 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $180,030,000 | -4.3% |
| 83 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $177,286,000 | -61.9% |
| 84 | Ethylene polymers | $176,100,000 | +1.1% |
| 85 | Petroleum gases | $176,022,000 | +22.8% |
| 86 | Apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums | $175,768,000 | +10.5% |
| 87 | Electrical converters/power units | $175,101,000 | +27.5% |
| 88 | Iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods | $167,649,000 | +9.9% |
| 89 | Ethyl alcohol | $167,137,000 | -19.8% |
| 90 | Electric storage batteries | $166,919,000 | +44.2% |
| 91 | Wheat | $164,082,000 | -10.3% |
| 92 | Refrigerators, freezers | $160,968,000 | +6.6% |
| 93 | Fish fillets, pieces | $155,659,000 | +9.6% |
| 94 | Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes | $155,117,000 | +13.7% |
| 95 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $150,180,000 | +34.1% |
| 96 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $149,763,000 | -15.3% |
| 97 | Uncoated kraft paper | $148,676,000 | +8.3% |
| 98 | Other fermented beverages | $145,427,000 | +19.8% |
| 99 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $144,352,000 | +10.5% |
| 100 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $140,735,000 | +15.5% |
This cohort of 100 exported South African goods were worth a subtotal of US$89.9 billion or 81.4% by value for all products exported from South Africa during 2024.
Products Generating the Greatest Trade Surpluses for South Africa
South Africa generated an overall US$9.2 billion trade surplus for 2024, expanding by 170.9% from the $3.4 billion in black ink one year earlier in 2023.
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$18.8 billion (Up by 4% since 2023)
- Ores, slag, ash: $17.1 billion (Up by 5.6%)
- Vehicles: $5.4 billion (Up by 24.7%)
- Fruits, nuts: $4.8 billion (Up by 13.3%)
- Iron, steel: $4 billion (Down by -17.4%)
- Aluminum: $1.5 billion (Down by -7%)
- Woodpulp: $1 billion (Down by -0.03%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $832.7 million (Up by 14.8%)
- Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $542.1 million (Down by -4.3%)
- Nickel: $540.7 million (Down by -26.3%)
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 -15.2% since 2023)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$7.6 billion (Down by -26.9%)
- Machinery including computers: -$7.3 billion (Up by 10.1%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$1.9 billion (Down by -4.1%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: -$1.8 billion (Up by 5.9%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: -$1.4 billion (Up by 21.5%)
- Other chemical goods: -$1 billion (Up by 63.5%)
- Rubber, rubber articles: -$883.9 million (Up by 4.7%)
- Footwear: -$814.2 million (Up by 20.3%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$773.6 million (Up by 6%)
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 11.1% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2024 ($993.7 billion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 11.1% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2024 equals the 11% one year earlier. Those percentages suggest a consistant 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 33.7% for 2024, up from an average 33.1% for 2023 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 March 2, 2025
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 2, 2025
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 2, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 2, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 2, 2025
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 2, 2025
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on March 2, 2025
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on March 2, 2025
Wikipedia, South Africa. Accessed on March 2, 2025
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: South African Rand to US Dollar (monthly average 2024). Accessed on February 23, 2025