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Strategic Lens

Supply chains and manufacturing: South Africa and United Arab Emirates

First country

Second country

In 2025, South Africa sold USD 396 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to United Arab Emirates and bought USD 36.9 million from it.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 396 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel, against USD 36.9 million the other way.
  • BothTwo-way trade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel is 42 percent below its 2021 peak of USD 752 million.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

The numbers

South Africa's exports to United Arab Emirates: machinery, vehicles and iron and steel

USD million · 2019 to 2025, calendar years, as reported by South Africa

2019: 449.1Low 199 / High 7162025: 396.2

2019449.1
2020467.8
2021716
2022301.9
2023314.5
2024199
2025396.2

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026)

Data retrieved 26 September 2026

South Africa's imports from United Arab Emirates: machinery, vehicles and iron and steel

USD million · 2019 to 2025, calendar years, as reported by South Africa

2019: 34.4Low 22.4 / High 45.92025: 36.9

201934.4
202022.4
202135.9
202230.7
202336.5
202445.9
202536.9

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026)

Data retrieved 26 September 2026

← South Africa and United Arab Emirates