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Strategic Lens

China and South Africa

First country

Second country

In 2025, China sold USD 23.0 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 30.5 billion from it. Both are members of the G20 and BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 84 percent in 2023, and 84 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 6 thousand people born in China lived in South Africa, and 5 thousand people born in South Africa lived in China.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 23.0 billion and South Africa sold USD 30.5 billion in 2025.
  • BothTrade in mineral fuels and oils runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 81.0 million and South Africa sold USD 64.0 million in 2025.
  • BothTrade in agricultural and food products runs both ways in similar amounts: China sold USD 550 million and South Africa sold USD 596 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothThe two countries' customs reports differ on goods sold by South Africa to China in 2025: China reports USD 30.5 billion and South Africa reports USD 12.8 billion.
  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils is 84 percent below its 2021 peak of USD 932 million.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 3.24 billion of critical minerals and metals, against USD 1.4 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 53.5 billion
2025, as reported by China
China to South Africa
USD 23.0 billion
2025, as reported by China
South Africa to China
USD 30.5 billion
2025, as reported by China

What connects China and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, China sold USD 23.0 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 30.5 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, China sold USD 81.0 million of mineral fuels and oils to South Africa and bought USD 64.0 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, China sold USD 1.4 million of critical minerals and metals to South Africa and bought USD 3.24 billion from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, China sold USD 550 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 596 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 144 million of fertilisers to South Africa and bought USD 4.4 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, China sold USD 6.89 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to South Africa and bought USD 935 million from it.TechnologyIn 2025, China sold USD 4.71 billion of electrical and electronic equipment to South Africa and bought USD 7.8 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 36.5 million of pharmaceutical products to South Africa and bought USD 18.5 million from it.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 84 percent in 2023, and 84 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 6 thousand people born in China lived in South Africa, and 5 thousand people born in South Africa lived in China.

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