Summary
- South Africa → Zimbabwe
- $3.8billion
- Zimbabwe → South Africa
- $1.4billion
- South Africa’s balance
- $2.4billion
Balance
South Africa’s trade balance with Zimbabwe
Trade between South Africa and Zimbabwe grew 3.6-fold since 1995
USD billions (current). South Africa’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).
- Exports 3.8
- Imports 1.4
- Balance +2.4
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Year | Exports | Imports | Trade balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | $1.1 billion | $304 million | $819 million |
| 1996 | $1.2 billion | $278 million | $970 million |
| 1997 | $1 billion | $194 million | $835 million |
| 1998 | $875 million | $177 million | $698 million |
| 1999 | $838 million | $195 million | $643 million |
| 2000 | $950 million | $319 million | $631 million |
| 2001 | $696 million | $212 million | $484 million |
| 2002 | $1.1 billion | $350 million | $713 million |
| 2003 | $712 million | $396 million | $316 million |
| 2004 | $1.3 billion | $571 million | $705 million |
| 2005 | $1.1 billion | $807 million | $266 million |
| 2006 | $1.1 billion | $775 million | $287 million |
| 2007 | $1.4 billion | $908 million | $444 million |
| 2008 | $1.1 billion | $815 million | $290 million |
| 2009 | $4.3 billion | $715 million | $3.6 billion |
| 2010 | $2.4 billion | $933 million | $1.5 billion |
| 2011 | $2.6 billion | $1.4 billion | $1.3 billion |
| 2012 | $2.9 billion | $1.6 billion | $1.3 billion |
| 2013 | $2.5 billion | $1.5 billion | $1 billion |
| 2014 | $2.5 billion | $928 million | $1.6 billion |
| 2015 | $2.3 billion | $974 million | $1.4 billion |
| 2016 | $2.2 billion | $1.2 billion | $1 billion |
| 2017 | $2.1 billion | $1.3 billion | $804 million |
| 2018 | $2.5 billion | $879 million | $1.6 billion |
| 2019 | $1.9 billion | $707 million | $1.2 billion |
| 2020 | $2.5 billion | $1.2 billion | $1.3 billion |
| 2021 | $3.2 billion | $1.5 billion | $1.7 billion |
| 2022 | $3.5 billion | $1.3 billion | $2.2 billion |
| 2023 | $3.5 billion | $1.4 billion | $2.1 billion |
| 2024 | $3.8 billion | $1.4 billion | $2.4 billion |
What they sell each other
What South Africa sells to Zimbabwe
The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.
What Zimbabwe sells to South Africa
The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.
How it travels
South Africa and Zimbabwe traded $5.1 billion in 2024 (both directions together). They trade mostly over land: 100% of the value travels by truck, rail or pipeline.
Split by transport mode
Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.
How much each matters to the other
Zimbabwe was South Africa’s 9th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and South Africa was Zimbabwe’s largest (29%).
- Zimbabwe in South Africa’s trade
- 2%
- Zimbabwe’s rank among South Africa’s partners
- 9th
- South Africa in Zimbabwe’s trade
- 29.2%
- South Africa’s rank among Zimbabwe’s partners
- 1st
Compare with
Other partners of South Africa
Other partners of Zimbabwe
Sources and methodology
Sources and licenses
- CEPII BACI · Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0
- World Bank, Global Shipping Traffic Density · CC BY 4.0 (route network derived by this site)
- World Port Index (NGA) · Public domain (US Government work)
- Natural Earth · Public domain
Methodology
Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.