← Overview

Strategic Lens

Australia and South Africa

First country

Second country

In 2025, Australia sold USD 1.19 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 1.42 billion from it. Both are members of the G20 and the Commonwealth of Nations. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 59 percent in 2023, and 57 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 3 thousand people born in Australia lived in South Africa, and 213 thousand people born in South Africa lived in Australia.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: Australia sold USD 1.19 billion and South Africa sold USD 1.42 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 182 percent, from USD 123 million in 2019 to USD 347 million in 2025.
  • BothTrade in electrical and electronic equipment runs both ways in similar amounts: Australia sold USD 39.9 million and South Africa sold USD 56.6 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils fell 78 percent, from USD 192 million in 2019 to USD 42.9 million in 2025.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 613 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel, against USD 122 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 26.5 million of pharmaceutical products, against USD 6.0 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 2.62 billion
2025, as reported by Australia
Australia to South Africa
USD 1.19 billion
2025, as reported by Australia
South Africa to Australia
USD 1.42 billion
2025, as reported by Australia

What connects Australia and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Australia sold USD 1.19 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 1.42 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Australia sold USD 39.2 million of mineral fuels and oils to South Africa and bought USD 3.6 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Australia sold USD 264 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 83.0 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Australia sold USD 122 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to South Africa and bought USD 613 million from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Australia sold USD 39.9 million of electrical and electronic equipment to South Africa and bought USD 56.6 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Australia sold USD 6.0 million of pharmaceutical products to South Africa and bought USD 26.5 million from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and the Commonwealth of Nations. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 59 percent in 2023, and 57 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 3 thousand people born in Australia lived in South Africa, and 213 thousand people born in South Africa lived in Australia.

← Africa