Strategic Lens

France and South Africa

First country

Continent

Country

Second country

Continent

Country

Category

In 2025, France sold USD 1.78 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 1.85 billion from it. The DESTA database lists 3 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being EC South African Development Community (SADC) EPA (2016). Both are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 57 percent in 2023, and 60 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: France sold USD 1.78 billion and South Africa sold USD 1.85 billion in 2025.
BothTrade in agricultural and food products runs both ways in similar amounts: France sold USD 389 million and South Africa sold USD 353 million in 2025.
BothEC South African Development Community (SADC) EPA, signed 2016 and in force since 2016.

Constraints

BothThe two countries' customs reports differ on goods sold by South Africa to France in 2025: France reports USD 1.85 billion and South Africa reports USD 790 million.
BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils fell 77 percent, from USD 142 million in 2019 to USD 32.0 million in 2025.
BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 44.1 million of critical minerals and metals, and France sold almost none.

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 3.63 billion; 2025, as reported by France
France to South Africa: USD 1.78 billion; 2025, as reported by France
South Africa to France: USD 1.85 billion; 2025, as reported by France

What connects France and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, France sold USD 1.78 billion of goods to South Africa and bought USD 1.85 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, France sold USD 10.7 million of mineral fuels and oils to South Africa and bought USD 21.3 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, South Africa sold USD 44.1 million of critical minerals and metals to France.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, France sold USD 389 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 353 million from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, France sold USD 343 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to South Africa and bought USD 1.01 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, France sold USD 144 million of electrical and electronic equipment to South Africa and bought USD 64.4 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, France sold USD 176 million of pharmaceutical products to South Africa and bought USD 6.1 million from it.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 3 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being EC South African Development Community (SADC) EPA (2016).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 57 percent in 2023, and 60 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.