Key information about South Africa Retail Sales Growth

• South Africa Retail Sales grew 3.2 % YoY in Dec 2024, compared with a 6.2 % increase in the previous month.
• South Africa Retail Sales Growth YoY data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2003 to Dec 2024, with an average growth rate of 2.7 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 86.6 % in Apr 2021 and a record low of -46.9 % in Apr 2020.
• In the latest reports, Car Sales of South Africa recorded 46,398.0 units in Jan 2025, representing a growth of 10.4 %.

Retail Sales in South Africa increased 4.20 percent in May of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - South Africa Retail Sales YoY - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

South Africa’s previously flourishing clothing industry suffered a serious downturn during the late ***** with many local companies having to shut operations. Difficult manufacturing conditions, lack of government support and the huge influx of clothing made in China, India and Bangladesh were the main reasons for this. In fact China is still the largest exporter of textile globally, with India at third place. However, the industry has begun to show signs of recovery especially from a retail perspective with revenues generated from the sales of textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods in South Africa, expected to increase from **** billion in 2016 to over **** billion in 2023. An incentive program initiated by the country’s Department of Trade and Industry in 2009, to make the domestic textile and clothing industry more competitive, has played a key role in this retail and wholesale recovery. Local manufacturing is gathering steam across many sectors including clothing as the government promotes Made in South Africa labels. Retailers have also started supporting domestic sourcing, which in turn allows them to respond more positively and quickly to dynamic market trends and diminishes their exposure to currency fluctuations. E-commerce is experiencing robust growth in the country, mainly due to lower prices and overall convenience. As a result online fashion sales are expected to emerge as the second largest e-Commerce category in the country by 2023, just behind electronics and media.

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Growth: Number of People Employed data was reported at 8.000 % in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 15.000 % for Jun 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Growth: Number of People Employed data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.000 % from Mar 1986 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 131 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.000 % in Mar 1991 and a record low of -40.000 % in Jun 2002. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Growth: Number of People Employed data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S005: Business Survey: Retail.

In 2022, retail trade sales in South Africa amounted to about ***** billion South African Rand, which is a increase compared to the previous year's sales figures.

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Business Conditions: Realized data was reported at -52.000 % Point in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of -33.000 % Point for Jun 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Business Conditions: Realized data is updated quarterly, averaging -26.000 % Point from Jun 1974 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 178 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.000 % Point in Dec 1980 and a record low of -85.000 % Point in Sep 1977. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Business Conditions: Realized data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S005: Business Survey: Retail.

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Hardware: Growth: Number of People Employed data was reported at 19.000 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -19.000 % for Jun 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Hardware: Growth: Number of People Employed data is updated quarterly, averaging -7.000 % from Mar 1997 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 87 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44.000 % in Dec 2006 and a record low of -84.000 % in Sep 1998. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Hardware: Growth: Number of People Employed data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S005: Business Survey: Retail.

This statistic illustrates the percentage share of retail trade sales in South Africa as of December 2024, broken down by retailer type. As of that month, general dealers were responsible for over ** percent of all retail trade sales in South Africa. Textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods were accounted for nearly a ***** of sales.

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Change in Business Conditions data was reported at -5.000 % in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -33.000 % for Sep 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Change in Business Conditions data is updated quarterly, averaging -27.500 % from Mar 1986 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 132 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 60.000 % in Mar 1988 and a record low of -92.000 % in Mar 1999. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Change in Business Conditions data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S005: Business Survey: Retail.

In South Africa, the estimated sales amount across various store categories provides key insights into the market's dynamics. Consumer Electronics, as a prominent category, generates significant sales, totaling $53.08B, which is 58.02% of the region's total sales in this sector. Apparel follows with robust sales figures, achieving $21.33B in sales and comprising 23.32% of the region's total. Autos & Vehicles contributes a considerable amount to the regional market, with sales of $4.79B, accounting for 5.24% of the total sales in South Africa. This breakdown highlights the varying economic impacts of different categories within the region, showcasing the diversity and strengths of each sector.

Graph and download economic data for Business Tendency Surveys for Retail Trade: Order Intentions or Demand: Tendency: European Commission Indicator for South Africa (DISCONTINUED) (BRODTE02ZAQ460N) from Q1 1990 to Q4 2013 about business sentiment, South Africa, retail trade, business, sales, and retail.

The Middle East And Africa Travel Retail Market report segments the industry into Product Type (Fashion And Accessories, Jewellery And Watches, Wine And Spirits, Food And Confectionary, Fragnances And Cosmetics, Tobacco, Others (Stationery, Electronics, etc.)), Distribution Channel (Airports, Airlines, Ferries, Others (Railway Stations, Border, Downtown)) and Geography (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and more).

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Non Durables: Growth: Orders Placed data was reported at 29.000 % in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.000 % for Sep 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Non Durables: Growth: Orders Placed data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.000 % from Mar 1986 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 132 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 93.000 % in Mar 1996 and a record low of -62.000 % in Mar 1999. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Non Durables: Growth: Orders Placed data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S005: Business Survey: Retail.

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Overall Profitability of Business data was reported at -42.000 % in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of -32.000 % for Mar 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Overall Profitability of Business data is updated quarterly, averaging -28.000 % from Jun 2001 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 69 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.000 % in Sep 2002 and a record low of -65.000 % in Dec 2009. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Overall Profitability of Business data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S005: Business Survey: Retail.

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Semi Durables: Growth: Orders Placed data was reported at 53.000 % in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 25.000 % for Sep 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Semi Durables: Growth: Orders Placed data is updated quarterly, averaging 10.000 % from Mar 1986 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 132 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.000 % in Mar 1988 and a record low of -100.000 % in Dec 1998. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: Semi Durables: Growth: Orders Placed data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S006: Business Survey: Retail: Old Methodology. Changed weighting and enterprise size groups. Replacement series ID: 409599377

This chart offers an insightful look at the store count by category in South Africa. Leading the way is Home & Garden, with 11.16K stores, which is 13.79% of the total stores in the region. Next is Apparel, contributing 10.28K stores, or 12.69% of the region's total. Business & Industrial also has a notable presence, with 7.17K stores, making up 8.86% of the store count in South Africa. This breakdown provides a clear picture of the diverse retail landscape in South Africa, showcasing the variety and scale of stores across different categories.

South Africa Business Survey: Retail: GA: Change in Business Conditions data was reported at 7.000 % in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -35.000 % for Jun 2018. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: GA: Change in Business Conditions data is updated quarterly, averaging -14.000 % from Mar 1995 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 95 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 58.000 % in Jun 2004 and a record low of -97.000 % in Sep 1998. South Africa Business Survey: Retail: GA: Change in Business Conditions data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau for Economic Research. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.S005: Business Survey: Retail.

Total revenues of retail trade in food, beverages and tobacco in non-specialised stores in South Africa are projected to increase from ** billion U.S. dollars in 2011 to nearly ** billion U.S. dollars by 2023. Among the main drivers include a growing agro-processing industry, high prevalence of tobacco users and the rising demand for beverages such as beer. In fact, South Africa is the leading country in terms of beer production in Africa, having produced over ** million hectoliters in 2018, with a per capita consumption of *** litres. Additionally, the sector has also benefitted from the rise in the number of supermarkets and retail chains. A good example is international retailer SPAR which has rapidly expanded in the country and currently has over *** supermarket store chains, with retail sales of over *** billion euros. This places South Africa among the top five markets for SPAR in terms of number of stores. Overall, the country’s food retail market is very concentrated with the top seven companies Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Massmart, Spar, Woolworths, the Food Lovers Market, and Choppies, accounting for over **% of all revenues.

South Africa’s smart retail market is set to grow at a 27.07% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, with rapid digitization and increasing demand for efficient, tech-driven retail solutions.

The research report provides both the historic and forecast market data of total retail sales, and the food and grocery market in South Africa. It illustrates the data with charts, graphs and tables summarizing the value, with category details in food and grocery sector. The forecasts include the impact of COVID-19 on growth. The research report also reveals major retailers share in food and grocery sector with their price and market positioning in 2020. Read More