South Africa (ZAF) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (COD) Trade

2022

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Exports $1.47BRnk 22 / 214

2022

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About

South Africa-Democratic Republic of the Congo Trade: In 2022, South Africa exported $1.47B to Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main products that South Africa exported to Democratic Republic of the Congo were Refined Petroleum ($111M), Liquid Pumps ($89.7M), and Excavation Machinery ($69.8M). Over the past 5 years the exports of South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo have increased at an annualized rate of 9.31%, from $940M in 2017 to $1.47B in 2022.

In 2022, South Africa did not export any services to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Democratic Republic of the Congo-South Africa Trade: In 2022, Democratic Republic of the Congo exported $139M to South Africa. The main products that Democratic Republic of the Congo exported to South Africa were Refined Copper ($105M), Precious Metal Scraps ($8.71M), and Raw Zinc ($7.85M). Over the past 5 years the exports of Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 45.3%, from $2.85B in 2017 to $139M in 2022.

In 2022, Democratic Republic of the Congo did not export any services to South Africa.

Comparison: In 2022, South Africa ranked 59 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.076), and 34 in total exports ($147B). That same year, Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked 130 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -1.81), and 71 in total exports ($28.5B).

Latest Trends

August, 2024

About

Overview In August 2024, South Africa exported ZAR1.62B and imported ZAR109M from Democratic Republic of the Congo, resulting in a positive trade balance of ZAR1.51B. Between August 2023 and August 2024 the exports of South Africa have decreased by ZAR-253M (-13.5%) from ZAR1.87B to ZAR1.62B, while imports decreased by ZAR-80.8M (-42.7%) from ZAR189M to ZAR109M.

Trade In August 2024, the top exports of South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo were Liquid Pumps (ZAR108M), Refined Petroleum (ZAR104M), Stone Processing Machines (ZAR85.1M), Nitrogenous Fertilizers (ZAR54.7M), and Plastic Pipes (ZAR38.3M). In August 2024 the top imports of South Africa from Democratic Republic of the Congo were Refined Copper (ZAR165M), Precious Metal Scraps (ZAR19.4M), Machinery Having Individual Functions (ZAR1.65M), Scrap Copper (ZAR400k), and Scrap Iron (ZAR293k).

Origins In August 2024 the exports of South Africa were mainly from Groblers Bridge (ZAR855M), Beit Bridge (ZAR384M), Kopfontein (ZAR112M), Germiston/Alberton (ZAR64.7M), and Skilpadshek (ZAR53M), while imports destinations were mainly Groblers Bridge (ZAR99.4M), Beit Bridge (ZAR7.19M), O.R. Tambo Int Airport (ZAR1.29M), and Cape Town (ZAR737k).

Growth In August 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year exports to Democratic Republic of the Congo was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Insulated Wire (ZAR-34.2M or -55.7%), Sulphur (ZAR-27.3M or -90.3%), and Delivery Trucks (ZAR-20.3M or -92.2%). In August 2024, the decrease in South Africa's year-by-year imports from Democratic Republic of the Congo was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports in Scrap Iron (ZAR-833k or -74%), Scrap Copper (ZAR-202k or -33.5%), and Commodities not elsewhere specified (ZAR-2.2k or -51.2%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale

Year

Quarter

Month

Flow

Exports

Imports

Value

Trade Value

Growth

Growth (%)

Depth

HS2

HS4

HS6

EXPORT GROWTH (August 2023 - August 2024)ZAR-253M(-13.5%)

IMPORT GROWTH (August 2023 - August 2024)ZAR-80.8M(-42.7%)

MAIN EXPORTER (August 2024)Groblers BridgeZAR855M

This section shows exports and imports data at subnational level for South Africa. Click any date in the line plot, any subnational region in the geomap or any product to explore the exports or imports behavior of South Africa over time.

To check Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth

HS2

HS4

HS6

Value

Trade

Growth

Growth (%)

Year

In 2022, South Africa exported $1.47B to Democratic Republic of the Congo. The main products exported from South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo were Refined Petroleum ($111M), Liquid Pumps ($89.7M), and Excavation Machinery ($69.8M). During the last 5 years the exports of South Africa to Democratic Republic of the Congo have increased at an annualized rate of 9.31%, from $940M in 2017 to $1.47B in 2022.

In 2017, Democratic Republic of the Congo exported $139M to South Africa. The main products exported from Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa were Refined Copper ($105M), Precious Metal Scraps ($8.71M), and Raw Zinc ($7.85M). During the last 5 years the exports of Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa have decreased at an annualized rate of 45.3%, from $2.85B in 2022 to $139M in 2017.

Exports from South Africa () to Democratic Republic of the Congo () (2022)

Exports from Democratic Republic of the Congo () to South Africa () (2022)

Market Competitiveness

Color

Exports

Export Growth

Section

Year

South Africa
Top DestinationChina$23.4B

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Top DestinationChina$15.6B

This map shows whether countries import more from South Africa or Democratic Republic of the Congo. Each country is colored based on the difference in imports they receive from South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo or the difference in the growth in imports.

In 2022, countries that imported more from South Africa than Democratic Republic of the Congo included United States ($10.9B), Germany ($9.96B), and India ($9.14B).

In 2022, countries that imported more from Democratic Republic of the Congo than South Africa included Tanzania ($1.17B), Singapore ($1.36B), and Portugal ($573M).

Difference in imports from Democratic Republic of the Congo () and South Africa () (2022)

Comparative Advantage South Africa - Democratic Republic of the Congo

Flow

Section

HS2

HS4

Scale

Log

Linear

Year

This chart compares trade between South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo by product, considering products traded by both, South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

During 2022, South Africa had a large net trade with Democratic Republic of the Congo in the exports of Machines ($550M), Chemical Products ($196M), and Metals ($184M).

During 2017, Democratic Republic of the Congo had a large net trade with South Africa in the exports of Metals ($115M), Precious Metals ($9.09M), and Transportation ($7.74M).

Potential Exports

Depth

Section

HS2

HS4

View

Top 20

Top 15

Top 10

Sort By

Highest Potential

Most Saturated

Section

Top Product Potential South Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo+$8.83MDelivery Trucks

Top Product Potential Democratic Republic of the Congo South Africa+$16.6MRefined Copper

We estimate the export potential of an economy for each product and destination using an extension of the bilateral relatedness model of Jun et al. (2019).This extended gravity model considers similarities among products and geographies and explains more than 50% of the variance in future trade flows.

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Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

Year

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of South Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo. This means that a dot/product with the flag of South Africa indicates it has a comparative advantage over Democratic Republic of the Congo. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of Democratic Republic of the Congo indicates it has a comparative advantage over South Africa.

Product Space of South Africa () and Democratic Republic of the Congo () (2022)

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