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Strategic Lens

Brazil and South Africa

First country

Second country

In 2025, Brazil sold USD 1.47 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 828 million from it. The DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being MERCOSUR Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (2016). Both are members of the G20 and BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 91 percent in 2023, and 85 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils grew 132 percent, from USD 112 million in 2019 to USD 260 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 70 percent, from USD 321 million in 2019 to USD 545 million in 2025.
  • BothMERCOSUR Southern African Customs Union (SACU), signed 2008 and in force since 2016.

Constraints

  • BothThe two countries' customs reports differ on goods sold by South Africa to Brazil in 2025: Brazil reports USD 828 million and South Africa reports USD 292 million.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Brazil sold USD 213 million of mineral fuels and oils, against USD 47.0 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Brazil sold USD 519 million of agricultural and food products, against USD 25.8 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 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)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 2.30 billion
2025, as reported by Brazil
Brazil to South Africa
USD 1.47 billion
2025, as reported by Brazil
South Africa to Brazil
USD 828 million
2025, as reported by Brazil

What connects Brazil and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Brazil sold USD 1.47 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 828 million from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Brazil sold USD 213 million of mineral fuels and oils to South Africa and bought USD 47.0 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Brazil sold USD 519 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 25.8 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Brazil sold USD 321 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to South Africa and bought USD 106 million from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Brazil sold USD 69.6 million of electrical and electronic equipment to South Africa and bought USD 9.0 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Brazil sold USD 13.7 million of pharmaceutical products to South Africa and bought USD 7.9 million from it.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being MERCOSUR Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (2016).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 91 percent in 2023, and 85 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

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