What is the value of US trade with South Africa?
Updates published annually
$16.9 billion in imports and $9.37 billion in exports in 2024. That means that the US imported $7.51 billion more from South Africa than we exported to it. Benefits of trade can include higher wages and job growth, a wider variety of products available at lower prices, increased productivity, and more efficient resource allocation.
$16.9B
Value of imports from South Africa to the US (2024)
$9.37B
Value of exports from the US to South Africa (2024)
Exports are goods and services the US sells to other countries. Imports are goods and services the US buys from other countries. Combining the value of imports and exports shows us how much trade happens between the US and other countries.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provides data for 71 of the US' trading partners (though not necessarily the top 71 trading partners). The partners they track accounted for 94.3% of total trade with the US in 2024.
BEA data ranks South Africa as the US’ 41st top trading partner: In 2024, the US traded $26.3 billion in goods and services with South Africa. Countries with similar trade values include Argentina ($26.3B) and Guatemala ($18.8B).
In 2024, the US traded $26.3 billion in goods and services with South Africa.
Total trade value (imports + exports) with the US (2024), by select countries
Another way to look at international trade is through trade balance. A nation that imports more than it exports, has a trade deficit. One that exports more than it imports has a trade surplus. Neither is inherently good or bad; trade balance is just a metric that shows the relationship between imports and exports.
The US has had a trade deficit with South Africa every year from 2014 through 2024. The 2024 deficit was $7.51 billion, a decrease from 2023's deficit of $5.6 billion.
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The trade deficit with South Africa increased to $7.51B in 2024.
Annual trade balance with South Africa, not adjusted for inflation
In 2024, 87.4% of imports from South Africa to the US were goods. The largest category was industrial supplies and materials (items used up in the production process, like oil, chemicals, and plastic), accounting for $6.16 billion. The top three imports were industrial supplies and materials, nonmonetary gold (gold purchased by individuals or businesses as investments or gold used in manufacturing processes, like for jewelry), and automotive vehicles and parts. These categories accounted for $12 billion of total imports.
The other 12.6% were services, with travel being the largest service category. Travel (money leaving the US by Americans spending on things like lodging, meals, transportation, and entertainment abroad) accounted for $1.06 billion.
Industrial supplies and materials made up 36.5% of US imports from South Africa in 2024.
US imports from South Africa by category (2024)
In 2024, more US exports to South Africa were goods — 62.2%. The largest export was capital goods (tools used for the production process, like machinery and equipment), which accounted for a value of $2.13 billion. The top three exports were capital goods, industrial supplies and materials, and automotive vehicles and parts. These categories accounted for $4.88 billion of exports to South Africa.
The other 37.8% were services, with travel being the largest service category. Travel (money entering the US from foreign visitors on expenses like lodging, meals, transportation, and entertainment) accounted for $961 million.
Capital goods made up 22.8% of US exports to South Africa in 2024.
US exports to South Africa by category (2024)
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
