← Overview

Strategic Lens

Critical minerals: South Africa and United States

First country

Second country

In 2025, South Africa sold USD 77.9 million of critical minerals and metals to United States and bought USD 3.5 million from it.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals grew 60 percent, from USD 50.9 million in 2019 to USD 81.5 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 77.9 million of critical minerals and metals, against USD 3.5 million the other way.

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 States: critical minerals and metals

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

2019: 46Low 46 / High 187.22025: 77.9

201946
202048.5
2021151.9
2022187.2
2023164.3
202467
202577.9

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 States: critical minerals and metals

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

2019: 4.9Low 3 / High 5.42025: 3.5

20194.9
20203
20214.9
20225.4
20233.1
20244.5
20253.5

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

Data retrieved 26 September 2026

← South Africa and United States