The Republic of South Africa imported US$111.3 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2022.
That dollar amount reflects an 18.4% increase over the 5-year period starting from $94 billion in 2018.
Year over year, the overall cost of South African imported products accelerated by 18.9% compared to $93.6 billion in 2021.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, the South African rand declined by -23.6% against the US dollar since 2018 and depreciated by -10.7% from 2021 to 2022. South Africa’s weaker local currency makes its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the South African rand.
Domestically, South Africa’s inflation rate for average consumer prices increased by 6.739% from 2021 to 2022. This compares with the 4.556% consumer price inflation rate one year earlier.
Among South Africa’s most valuable imported products in 2022 were processed petroleum oils, cars, crude oil, phone devices including smartphones, and computers. Those leading import commodities represent 29.6% of all South African spending on imports for 2022.
South Africa’s Best International Trade Suppliers
The latest available country-specific data shows that 70.8% of products imported into South Africa were supplied by exporters in: mainland China (35.6% of South Africa’s global total), India (7.5%), Germany (5.2%), United States of America (5.1%), Saudi Arabia (4%), United Arab Emirates (2.8%), Thailand (2.7%), Japan (2.2%), Oman (also 2.2%), Italy (1.8%), Nigeria (1.7%) and France (1.3%).
Applying a continental lens, 54.1% of South Africa’s total imports by value in 2022 were purchased from Asian countries. Trade partners in Europe supplied 25.1% of imported goods bought by South Africa while 8.9% worth originated from fellow African nations. North American exporters accounted for another 8.3% of South Africa’s imports.
Smaller percentages came from Latin America (2.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and provider in Oceania (1.3%) led by Australia.
Given South Africa’s population of 61.1 million people, its tally of $111.3 billion for imports in 2022 translates to roughly $1,800 in yearly product demand from every person in the resources-rich country located at Africa’s southern tip. That per-capita amount outpaces the average $1,550 for 2021.
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in South Africa’s import purchases during 2022. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into South Africa.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$25.3 billion (22.7% of total imports)
- Machinery including computers: $12.5 billion (11.2%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $10.4 billion (9.3%)
- Vehicles: $8.3 billion (7.5%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $3.2 billion (2.9%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $2.5 billion (2.3%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $2.3 billion (2.1%)
- Other chemical goods: $2.2 billion (2.0%)
- Inorganic chemicals: $2.03 billion (1.8%)
- Books, newspapers, pictures: $2.01 billion (1.8%)
South Africa’s top 10 imports approached two-thirds (63.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
The fastest growers from 2021 to 2022 among South African import categories were mineral fuels including oil (up 63.4%), vehicles (up 31%), inorganic chemicals (up 26.7%) then electrical machinery and equipment (up 20.5%).
The lone decliner among South Africa’s most valuable imported products were pharmaceuticals dragged down by a -17.5% drop from 2021.
See the more detailed product information under the sections below.
Major Mineral Fuels Products Imported by South Africa
In 2022, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Processed petroleum oils: US$18.4 billion (up 121% from 2021)
- Crude oil: $4.5 billion (down -17.9%)
- Petroleum gases: $804.4 million (up 43.3%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $519.8 million (up 31.4%)
- Electrical energy: $317.8 million (up 8.6%)
- co*ke, semi-co*ke: $302.8 million (up 61.1%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $266.8 million (up 89.4%)
- Tar pitch, co*ke: $70.2 million (up 50.3%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $52.2 million (up 58.8%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $19.3 million (up 109.8%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of processed petroleum oils (up 121%), high temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 109.8%) then petroleum oil residues (up 89.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among South African businesses and consumers.
Major Machinery Products Imported by South Africa
In 2022, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$2.1 billion (up 1.5% from 2021)
- Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $960.7 million (up 41.5%)
- Machinery parts: $663.5 million (up 14.6%)
- Printing machinery: $558.5 million (up 0.5%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $511.1 million (up 15.9%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $507 million (up 11.9%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $506.4 million (up 18.3%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $448.7 million (up 16.7%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $332.7 million (down -0.5%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $321.7 million (down -0.4%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of heavy machinery such as bulldozers, excavators and road rollers (up 41.5%), liquid pumps and elevators (up 18.3%) then transmission shafts, gears and clutches (up 16.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among South African businesses and consumers.
Major Electronics Products Imported by South Africa
In 2022, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics.
- Phone devices including smartphones: US$3.5 billion (up 12.8% from 2021)
- Electric storage batteries: $975.1 million (up 149.4%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $720.3 million (up 70.7%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $502 million (up 12.4%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $431.1 million (up 41.6%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $390.2 million (up 4%)
- Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $317.8 million (down -4.2%)
- Electric motors, generators: $311.8 million (up 15.6%)
- Electric generating sets, converters: $242.4 million (up 206.5%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $222.1 million (up 14.8%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of electric generating sets and converters (up 206.5%), electric storage batteries (up 149.4%) then electrical converters and power units (up 70.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among South African businesses and consumers.
Major Vehicles Products Imported by South Africa
In 2022, South African importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.
- Cars: US$4.5 billion (up 42.6% from 2021)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $1.8 billion (up 4.8%)
- Trucks: $1 billion (up 46.2%)
- Tractors: $530.1 million (up 41.5%)
- Trailers: $144.3 million (up 0.8%)
- Motorcycles: $108.4 million (up 15.9%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $96.9 million (up 66.2%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $55.2 million (up 22.2%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $50.9 million (up 8.0%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $29.5 million (down -15.2%)
Among these import subcategories, South African purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 66.2%), trucks (up 46.2%) then cars (up 42.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among South African businesses and consumers.
See also South Africa’s Top 10 Exports, Top South African Trading Partners and Top African Export Countries
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on March 27, 2023
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on March 27, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 27, 2023
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 27, 2023
Wikipedia, South Africa. Accessed on March 27, 2023
