Access to Africa
South Africa’s large and diverse economy plays an important role in the region. Its strong financial, legal and business services and extensive transport infrastructure make it an ideal gateway to other countries and markets in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Top five UK goods exported to South Africa , in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2024
| Goods | Value (£ million ) |
|---|---|
| Mechanical power generators (intermediate) | |
| Specialised machinery (capital) | |
| Cars | |
| Road vehicles other than cars (capital) | |
| Medicinal & pharmaceutical products |
Source:
ONS Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports
Last updated: October 2024
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for South Africa.
Top five UK services exported to South Africa , in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2024
| Service | Value (£ million ) |
|---|---|
| Other Business Services | |
| Travel | |
| Financial | |
| Insurance and Pension | |
| Telecommunications, computer and information services |
Source:
ONS UK trade in services: service type by partner country, non-seasonally adjusted
Last updated: October 2024
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for South Africa.
Total import value (into the UK from South Africa) and export value (from the UK into South Africa) over time
| Year | Imports (£ billion ) | Exports (£ billion ) | Total trade (£ billion ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 8.6 |
| 2017 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 9.2 |
| 2018 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 9.6 |
| 2019 | 6.0 | 4.3 | 10.2 |
| 2020 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 8.3 |
| 2021 | 7.4 | 3.7 | 11.0 |
| 2022 | 6.7 | 4.7 | 11.4 |
| 2023 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 10.2 |
Source:
ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Last updated: October 2024
Total trade is the sum of all exports and imports over the same time period.
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for South Africa.
South Africa: at a glance
Economic growth
0.7%
Actual figure (IMF, 2023)
The UK is 0.1% (IMF, 2023, projected figure)
GDP per capita
$6,629
Actual figure (IMF, 2022)
The UK is $45,730 (IMF, 2022, projected figure)
Currency
Rand
Business language
English
Time zone
GMT +2
Want to see more on South Africa? Sign up for additional market data, content specific to your product or sector and to compare South Africa side by side with other markets.
Check for trade barriers
Trade barriers, such as tariffs or taxes, can raise costs, cause delays, or even stop you from exporting. Check for any issues that may impact your business when exporting.
Check duties and customs
Find information on how to export goods from the UK. View the duties, rules, restrictions, and the documents you need for your products.
Next steps
Get ready to do business abroad
Step-by-step lessons to accelerate your exporting ability.
Read more
Find the answers to your exporting questions
Get instant help from our online services and how-to articles or contact our Export Support Service to access our wider network of support.
Find answers