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Strategic Lens

Russia and South Africa

First country

Second country

In 2025, Russia sold USD 514 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 385 million from it. Both are members of the G20 and BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 67 percent in 2023, and 73 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2025, Russia sold USD 26.9 million of mineral fuels and oils to South Africa and bought USD 1.6 million from it.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: Russia sold USD 514 million and South Africa sold USD 385 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 62 percent, from USD 291 million in 2019 to USD 471 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in fertilisers grew about 5.2 times, from USD 70.2 million in 2019 to USD 363 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothTrade is concentrated: agricultural and food products were 52 percent of goods trade between them in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils fell 46 percent, from USD 52.7 million in 2019 to USD 28.6 million in 2025.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Russia sold USD 363 million of fertilisers, and South Africa sold almost none.

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)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 899 million
2025, as reported by South Africa
Russia to South Africa
USD 514 million
2025, as reported by South Africa
South Africa to Russia
USD 385 million
2025, as reported by South Africa

What connects Russia and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Russia sold USD 514 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 385 million from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Russia sold USD 26.9 million of mineral fuels and oils to South Africa and bought USD 1.6 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Russia sold USD 98.8 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 372 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, Russia sold USD 363 million of fertilisers to South Africa.

Diplomacy

Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the G20 and BRICS. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 67 percent in 2023, and 73 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

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