Techsalerator’s Import/Export Trade Data for Africa

Techsalerator’s Import/Export Trade Data for Africa offers a thorough and detailed examination of trade activities across the African continent. This extensive dataset provides valuable insights into import and export transactions involving companies throughout Africa, covering a wide range of countries and regions.

Coverage Across All African Countries

The dataset includes comprehensive trade data for all African countries, divided into key regions:

North Africa:

Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Algeria Sudan Tunisia East Africa: 8. Burundi 9. Comoros 10. Djibouti 11. Eritrea 12. Ethiopia 13. Kenya 14. Madagascar 15. Malawi 16. Mauritius 17. Rwanda 18. Seychelles 19. Somalia 20. Tanzania 21. Uganda

West Africa: 22. Benin 23. Burkina Faso 24. Cape Verde 25. Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) 26. Gambia 27. Ghana 28. Guinea 29. Guinea-Bissau 30. Liberia 31. Mali 32. Niger 33. Nigeria 34. Senegal 35. Sierra Leone 36. Togo

Central Africa: 37. Angola 38. Cameroon 39. Central African Republic 40. Chad 41. Congo, Democratic Republic of the 42. Congo, Republic of the 43. Equatorial Guinea 44. Gabon 45. São Tomé and Príncipe

Southern Africa: 46. Botswana 47. Eswatini (Swaziland) 48. Lesotho 49. Namibia 50. South Africa 51. Zimbabwe

Comprehensive Data Features

Transaction Details: The dataset includes detailed information on each trade transaction, such as product descriptions, quantities, values, and dates. This allows for precise tracking and analysis of trade patterns and flows across Africa.

Company Information: It provides specific details about the trading companies involved, including company names, locations, and industry sectors, facilitating targeted market research and competitive analysis.

Categorization: Transactions are categorized by industry sectors, product types, and trade partners, offering insights into market dynamics and sector-specific trends within different regions of Africa.

Trade Trends: Users can analyze historical data to observe trade trends, identify emerging markets, and assess the impact of economic, political, or environmental events on trade activities across the continent.

Geographical Insights: The data provides insights into regional trade flows and cross-border dynamics within Africa and with global trade partners, including major international trade relationships.

Regulatory and Compliance Data: Information on trade regulations, tariffs, and compliance requirements is included, helping businesses navigate the complex regulatory environments across various African countries.

Applications and Benefits

Market Research: Businesses can leverage the data to uncover new market opportunities, analyze competitive landscapes, and understand demand for specific products across different African countries and regions.

Strategic Planning: Companies can use insights from the data to develop effective trade strategies, optimize supply chains, and manage risks associated with international trade in Africa.

Economic Analysis: Analysts and policymakers can monitor economic performance, evaluate trade balances, and make informed decisions on trade policies and economic development initiatives.

Investment Decisions: Investors can assess trade trends and market potentials to make informed decisions about investments in Africa’s diverse and rapidly evolving economies.

Techsalerator’s Import/Export Trade Data for Africa provides a crucial resource for organizations involved in international trade, offering a detailed, reliable, and expansive view of trade activities across the African continent.

Exports in South Africa increased to 175749.91 ZAR Million in May from 165293 ZAR Million in April of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Africa Exports - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This dataset provides values for EXPORTS reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Central African Republic CF: Exports: Goods: by Reporting Economy data was reported at 115.950 USD mn in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 117.784 USD mn for 2022. Central African Republic CF: Exports: Goods: by Reporting Economy data is updated yearly, averaging 55.637 USD mn from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 231.219 USD mn in 1998 and a record low of 0.700 USD mn in 1961. Central African Republic CF: Exports: Goods: by Reporting Economy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current US$.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Sum;

South Africa ZA: Exports: Goods: by Reporting Economy data was reported at 74.913 USD bn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 81.488 USD bn for 2015. South Africa ZA: Exports: Goods: by Reporting Economy data is updated yearly, averaging 14.976 USD bn from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 108.813 USD bn in 2011 and a record low of 1.091 USD bn in 1960. South Africa ZA: Exports: Goods: by Reporting Economy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Exports. Merchandise exports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current US$.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Sum;

South Africa ZA: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: Residual data was reported at 5.816 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.959 % for 2015. South Africa ZA: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: Residual data is updated yearly, averaging 5.140 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.208 % in 1998 and a record low of 0.053 % in 2009. South Africa ZA: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: Residual data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports by the reporting economy residuals are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database, less the sum of exports by the reporting economy to high-, low-, and middle-income economies according to the World Bank classification of economies. Includes trade with unspecified partners or with economies not covered by World Bank classification. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

Central African Republic CF: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Outside Region data was reported at 9.237 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 23.613 % for 2022. Central African Republic CF: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Outside Region data is updated yearly, averaging 2.588 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 53 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 78.744 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.011 % in 1978. Central African Republic CF: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Outside Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;

South Africa's total Exports in 2024 were valued at US$110.11 Billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. South Africa's main export partners were: China, the United States and Germany. The top three export commodities were: Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins; Ores slag and ash and Vehicles other than railway, tramway. Total Imports were valued at US$101.24 Billion. In 2024, South Africa had a trade surplus of US$8.87 Billion.

Context

In this data, you will see economy of African countries from 1980 to 2022

Content

 `country`
  'Year', 
  'Real per Capita GDP Growth Rate (annual %)',
  'Real GDP growth (annual %)',
  'Gross domestic product, (constant prices US$)',
  'Gross domestic product, current prices (current US$)',
  'Final consumption expenditure (current US$)',
  'General government final consumption expenditure (current US$)',
  'Household final consumption expenditure (current US$)',
  'Gross capital formation (current US$)',
  'Gross capital formation, Private sector (current US$)',
  'Gross capital formation, Public sector (current US$)',
  'Exports of goods and services (current US$)',
  'Imports of goods and services (current US$)',
  'Final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)',
  'General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)',
  'Household final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)',
  'Gross capital formation (% of GDP)',
  'Gross capital formation, Private sector (% GDP)',
  'Gross capital formation, Public sector (% GDP)',
  'Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)',
  'Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)',
  'Central government, Fiscal Balance (Current US $)',
  'Central government, total revenue and grants (Current US $)',
  'Central government, total expenditure and net lending (Current US $)',
  'Central government, Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)',
  'Central government, total revenue and grants (% of GDP)',
  'Central government, total expenditure and net lending (% of GDP)',
  'Current account balance (Net, BoP, cur. US$)',
  'Current account balance (As % of GDP)',
  'Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)']

Acknowledgements

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ZA: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: The Arab World data was reported at 3.583 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.281 % for 2015. ZA: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: The Arab World data is updated yearly, averaging 0.236 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.583 % in 2016 and a record low of 0.000 % in 1985. ZA: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: The Arab World data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Exports. Merchandise exports to economies in the Arab World are the sum of merchandise exports by the reporting economy to economies in the Arab World. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

Figure 3 depicts China-Africa trade from 2000 to 2013. It shows that China-Africa trade consistently grew since the formation of the FOCAC in 2000. As can be seen in the figure, the US trade with Africa declined after the 2008 global financial crisis, allowing China to take the lead as Africa's largest trading partner. Figure 7 shows trade between China and Africa from 2003 to 2021. Although with fluctuations, trade between the two sides has been increasing since the establishment of the FOCAC mechanism. It reached a first high of US$203 billion in 2015 and then declined significantly the following year. However, the trade increased again from 2017 and surged to US$254 billion in 2021, up by 35% from the previous year. The high trade volume in 2021 has been attributed to the additional Chinese exports of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), such as masks and hazmat suits, as well as pharmaceutical products and testing equipment for the COVID-19 pandemic to Africa. However, Gu et al (2022: 11) indicated that the strong increase in China-Africa trade volume in 2021 is remarkable as data from China's customs agency shows that it is "made up of an increase in both Chinese exports to Africa (29.9% year-on-year) and African exports to China (43.7% year-on-year)". Figure 4 shows the number of countries around the world that have joined China's Belt and Road Initiatiative (BRI). As can be seen in the figure, China's BRI has attracted more than 140 countries. In Africa, the first countries that signed up for the BRI project were East and North African countries such as Kenya, Djibouti, Tanzania and Egypt. In Figure 5, the map shows the number of African countries that have signed up for the BRI since 2015. As can be seen in the figure, 52 countries in Africa had signed some BRI-related Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China by 2022.

Table 1 shows that studies that analysed the China-Africa relationship focusing on their 'strategic partnership' are very few, given the voluminous literature on China and Africa. A search of Sino-Africa studies conducted in English with the term 'strategic partnership' in their titles produced only ten papers (see table). Furthermore, as the table shows, studies investigating the increased security cooperation in China-Africa relations conducted in English are rare, although this part of the debate has also produced numerous research publications. The column titled 'Focus of study' in Table 1 above shows that majority of these studies concentrated on analysing economic cooperation, while a few also included political relations between China and Africa. Also, the column titled 'Definition of strategic partnership' shows that, all these studies, except Akpan and Onya (2018), made no attempts to define the concept of strategic partnership. Figure 8 shows the countries around the world in which the United Nations (UN) has deployed its peacekeepers. As shown in the figure, the UN has deployed several peacekeeping missions around the world since the late 1940s, with most of these operations taking place in the African continent. Figure 9 focuses on the UN’s peacekeeping operations in Africa. As can be seen in the figure, Chinese peacekeeping troops were deployed in five out of the seven UN-led missions on the African continent as of 2019. Figure 12 shows the foreign military bases that currently exist in African countries. As the figure shows, the African Continent is a host to 47 known foreign military bases, of which 34 are United States (US) bases. Figure 13 shows the foreign military bases in Djibouti. As seen in the figure, Djibouti hosts the US' Camp Lemonnier military base, just 13.4 kilometres away from the Chinese PLA's new navy facility, along with military bases of other major powers such as France, Germany and Japan in close proximity. Djibouti thus found itself in the middle of diplomatic tensions between China and the US over fears of a Chinese takeover of the Doraleh Container Terminal, Djibouti's main container port, in 2018, as China financed the development of the port. Figure 6 shows China's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) commitments from 2006 to 2021. As can be seen in the figure, China's financial pledges to assist Africa increased from US$5 billion to US$60 in 2015. However, they dropped to US$40 billion in 2021. Further, drops in the number of activities, such as official development assistance (ODAs) and capacity building, including reductions in security collaborations, were also noted. However, a new development was China's reallocation of US$10 billion of its Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) towards Africa from the US$40 billion that it received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Central African Republic CF: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: Residual data was reported at 0.000 % in 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 2022. Central African Republic CF: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: Residual data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.047 % in 2005 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2023. Central African Republic CF: Exports: % of Total Goods Exports: Residual data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports by the reporting economy residuals are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database, less the sum of exports by the reporting economy to high-, low-, and middle-income economies according to the World Bank classification of economies. Includes trade with unspecified partners or with economies not covered by World Bank classification. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;

South Africa ZA: Exports: High-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports data was reported at 46.715 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 44.721 % for 2015. South Africa ZA: Exports: High-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports data is updated yearly, averaging 84.241 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.841 % in 1963 and a record low of 42.377 % in 2012. South Africa ZA: Exports: High-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports to high-income economies are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to high-income economies according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.

Top Import Products of From south africa with import value and Year on Year growth comparison

New-ID: NBI18

The Africa Major Infrastructure and Human Settlements Dataset

Files: TOWNS2.E00 Code: 100022-002 ROADS2.E00 100021-002

Vector Members: The E00 files are in Arc/Info Export format and should be imported with the Arc/Info command Import cover In-Filename Out-Filename

The Africa major infrastructure and human settlements dataset form part of the UNEP/FAO/ESRI Database project that covers the entire world but focuses here on Africa. The maps were prepared by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), USA. Most data for the database were provided by the Soil Resources, Management and Conservation Service, Land and Water Development Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Italy. This dataset was developed in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Kenya. The base maps used were the UNESCO/FAO Soil Map of the world (1977) in Miller Oblated Stereographic projection, the DMA Global Navigation and Planning charts for Africa (various dates: 1976-1982) and the Rand-McNally, New International Atlas (1982). All sources were re-registered to the basemap by comparing known features on the basemap those of the source maps. The digitizing was done with a spatial resolution of 0.002 inches. The maps were then transformed from inch coordinates to latitude/longitude degrees. The transformation was done using an unpublished algorithm of the US Geological Survey and ESRI to create coverages for one-degree graticules. The Population Centers were selected based upon their inclusion in the list of major cities and populated areas in the Rand McNally New International Atlas Contact: UNEP/GRID-Nairobi, P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya FAO, Soil Resources, Management and Conservation Service, 00100, Rome, Italy ESRI, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA. 92373, USA The ROADS2 file shows major roads of the African continent The TOWNS2 file shows human settlements and airports for the African continent

References:

ESRI. Final Report UNEP/FAO World and Africa GIS data base (1984). Internal Publication by ESRI, FAO and UNEP

FAO. UNESCO Soil Map of the World (1977). Scale 1:5000000. UNESCO, Paris

Defence Mapping Agency. Global Navigation and Planning charts for Africa (various dates: 1976-1982). Scale 1:5000000. Washington DC.

Grosvenor. National Geographic Atlas of the World (1975). Scale 1:850000. National Geographic Society Washington DC.

DMA. Topographic Maps of Africa (various dates). Scale 1:2000000 Washington DC.

Rand-McNally. The new International Atlas (1982). Scale 1:6,000,000. Rand McNally & Co.Chicago

Source: FAO Soil Map of the World. Scale 1:5000000 Publication Date: Dec 1984 Projection: Miller Type: Points Format: Arc/Info export non-compressed Related Datasets: All UNEP/FAO/ESRI Datasets ADMINLL (100012-002) administrative boundries AFURBAN (100082) urban percentage coverage Comments: There is no outline of Africa

South Africa ZA: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Middle East & North Africa data was reported at 0.783 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.921 % for 2015. South Africa ZA: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Middle East & North Africa data is updated yearly, averaging 0.554 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 53 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.251 % in 1977 and a record low of 0.000 % in 1985. South Africa ZA: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Middle East & North Africa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Sub-Saharan Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.

South Africa ZA: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Sub-Saharan Africa data was reported at 27.993 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.241 % for 2015. South Africa ZA: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Sub-Saharan Africa data is updated yearly, averaging 7.298 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.718 % in 2014 and a record low of 2.649 % in 1978. South Africa ZA: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Sub-Saharan Africa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Exports. Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Sub-Saharan Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Sub-Saharan Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

Central African Republic CF: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Middle East & North Africa data was reported at 0.230 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.050 % for 2022. Central African Republic CF: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Middle East & North Africa data is updated yearly, averaging 0.221 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.393 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.003 % in 2020. Central African Republic CF: Exports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Exports: Middle East & North Africa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Exports. Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.;World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.;Weighted average;