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Russian foreign trade
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Russian trade with South Africa in 2012

by Russian Foreign Trade
based on data from the Federal Customs Service of Russia
The Report on Russia’s foreign trade in goods with South Africa in 2012: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with South Africa

In 2012, Russia’s trade with South Africa totaled $965,087,975, up 66.41% ($385,126,112) from 2011.

Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2012 totaled $278,745,061, up 143.19% ($164,123,698) from 2011.

Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2012 totaled $686,342,914, up 47.49% ($221,002,414) from 2011.

Russia’s trade deficit with South Africa in 2012 was $407,597,853, a 16.22% increase ($56,878,716) over 2011.

South Africa was Russia’s 68th largest trading partner in 2012 (up from 77th in 2011), accounting for 0.1146% of Russia’s total trade (up from 0.0705% in 2011).

South Africa was Russia’s 78th largest export market in 2012 (up from 93rd in 2011), accounting for 0.0531% of Russia’s total exports (up from 0.0222% in 2011).

South Africa was Russia’s 49th largest supplier in 2012 (up from 55th in 2011), accounting for 0.2163% of Russia’s total imports (up from 0.1522% in 2011).

Russia’s Exports to South Africa

The major share of Russian exports to South Africa in 2012 (and in 2011) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 39.35% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (1.12% in 2011);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 22.12% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (50.78% in 2011);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 16.87% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (8.84% in 2011);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 11.69% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (29.60% in 2011);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 3.96% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (5.09% in 2011);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 3.57% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (4.20% in 2011);
  • Precious metals and stones (HS code 71) - 1.31% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (0.00% in 2011).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $108,391,801;
  • Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 85) - an increase of $36,654,042;
  • Fertilizers (HS code 31) - an increase of $5,553,471;
  • Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans (HS code 49) - an increase of $4,078,460;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - an increase of $3,858,498;
  • Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin (HS code 71) - an increase of $3,663,869;
  • Knitted or crocheted fabrics (HS code 60) - an increase of $1,973,006;
  • Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes (HS code 24) - an increase of $1,654,387;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - an increase of $1,626,174;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $1,418,158;
  • Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal (HS code 82) - an increase of $1,349,430.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $2,656,109;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $1,121,294;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $1,065,395.
Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2012 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in 2012,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in 2011,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2012
over 2011
10 Cereals 30,663,835 11.00 33,319,944-7.97
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 137,905 0.05 0
16 Preparations of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 1,563-100.00
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 73,693 0.03 1,6174,457.39
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 44,882 0.02 478,685-90.62
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 0 0.00 124,084-100.00
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 1,654,387 0.59 0
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 109,675,673 39.35 1,283,8728,442.57
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 725,630 0.26 1,080,921-32.87
29 Organic chemicals 243,712 0.09 262,163-7.04
31 Fertilizers 47,550,816 17.06 41,997,34513.22
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 8,806 0.00 15,425-42.91
34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster 2,255 0.00 1,86920.65
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 0 0.00 20,550-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 82,730 0.03 429,184-80.72
39 Plastics and articles thereof 297,186 0.11 598,343-50.33
40 Rubber and articles thereof 12,733,681 4.57 13,799,076-7.72
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 160 0.00 8,141-98.03
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof 0 0.00 127-100.00
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 161,315 0.06 684,456-76.43
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 13,926 0.00 0
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 1,642,719 0.59 16,5459,828.79
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 9,216,298 3.31 5,137,83879.38
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 24,918 0.01 315,100-92.09
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 0 0.00 591-100.00
60 Knitted or crocheted fabrics 1,973,006 0.71 0
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 552 0.00 876-36.99
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 15,622 0.01 12,52324.75
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 70 0.00 0
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 30,641 0.01 22,27537.56
65 Headgear and parts thereof 1,288 0.00 1,479-12.91
66 Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking sticks, seatsticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof 50 0.00 0
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 11,137 0.00 8,56330.06
69 Ceramic products 12,015 0.00 4,500167.00
70 Glass and glassware 110 0.00 604-81.79
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 3,664,170 1.31 3011,217,232.23
72 Iron and steel 5,048,284 1.81 1,189,786324.30
73 Articles of iron or steel 17,833 0.01 77,716-77.05
74 Copper and articles thereof 355 0.00 142,435.71
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 2,900,864 1.04 2,913,219-0.42
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 1,988,337 0.71 638,907211.21
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 0 0.00 91-100.00
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 526,096 0.19 1,647,390-68.06
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 44,640,933 16.01 7,986,891458.93
86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds 11,223 0.00 0
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 1,934 0.00 72,158-97.32
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 1,839,989 0.66 421,831336.19
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 85 0.00 0
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 30 0.00 0
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 767,557 0.28 203,837,685.00
SS Classified 338,353 0.12 44 780655.59

Russia’s Imports from South Africa

The major share of Russian imports from South Africa in 2012 (and in 2011) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 38.65% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (51.20% in 2011);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 31.03% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (16.25% in 2011);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 16.66% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (15.96% in 2011);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 8.67% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (9.68% in 2011);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 4.37% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (6.05% in 2011).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $114,701,596;
  • Ores, slag and ash (HS code 26) - an increase of $35,969,021;
  • Beverages, spirits and vinegar (HS code 22) - an increase of $22,770,499;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $14,674,945;
  • Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes (HS code 28) - an increase of $9,157,190;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - an increase of $8,995,512;
  • Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles (HS code 85) - an increase of $8,146,887;
  • Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants (HS code 20) - an increase of $4,464,087;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - an increase of $4,004,668;
  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - an increase of $3,902,941.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2012 over 2011 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - a decrease of $5,258,393;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - a decrease of $3,200,238.
Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2012 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in 2012,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in 2011,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2012
over 2011
01 Live animals 55,300 0.01 430,753-87.16
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage 698,529 0.10 769,394-9.21
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 260,978 0.04 213,61922.17
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 214,918,622 31.31 214,846,1200.03
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 310,870 0.05 457,477-32.05
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 873,198 0.13 734,10518.95
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 47,442 0.01 0
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 33,612 0.00 6,822392.70
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 79,021 0.01 134,736-41.35
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 11,242 0.00 7,57748.37
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 459 0.00 1,056-56.53
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 14,634,916 2.13 10,170,82943.89
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 148,449 0.02 85,24974.14
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 33,061,032 4.82 10,290,533221.28
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 157,332 0.02 101,49355.02
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 7,564,092 1.10 3,661,151106.60
26 Ores, slag and ash 105,563,145 15.38 69,594,12451.68
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 1,240,375 0.18 1,025,55920.95
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 32,049,417 4.67 22,892,22740.00
29 Organic chemicals 1,364,086 0.20 699,65394.97
30 Pharmaceutical products 4,130 0.00 3,16430.53
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 864,288 0.13 1,135,580-23.89
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 132,166 0.02 204,255-35.29
34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster 28,280 0.00 75,165-62.38
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 100,567 0.01 154,184-34.77
37 Photographic or cinematographic goods 0 0.00 424-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 18,752,011 2.73 9,756,49992.20
39 Plastics and articles thereof 3,443,047 0.50 8,701,440-60.43
40 Rubber and articles thereof 2,773,567 0.40 1,417,48795.67
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 49,584 0.01 68,662-27.79
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 142,913 0.02 163,814-12.76
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof 791,719 0.12 491,19361.18
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 33,769 0.00 29,10416.03
45 Cork and articles of cork 99 0.00 43130.23
46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork 0 0.00 87-100.00
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 515,540 0.08 379,63435.80
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 16,088 0.00 374,881-95.71
50 Silk 311 0.00 0
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric 42,762 0.01 70,662-39.48
52 Cotton 4,169 0.00 0
54 Man-made filaments 113,335 0.02 27,240316.06
55 Man-made staple fibers 1,403 0.00 7,501-81.30
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 251 0.00 336-25.30
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 16 0.00 1,948-99.18
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 64,995 0.01 18,106258.97
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 4,091 0.00 4,526-9.61
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 2,104 0.00 2,502-15.91
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 6,711 0.00 22,172-69.73
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 605,426 0.09 386156,746.11
65 Headgear and parts thereof 237 0.00 2312.60
67 Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair 49 0.00 1,203-95.93
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 82,563 0.01 18,305351.04
69 Ceramic products 143,813 0.02 102,60540.16
70 Glass and glassware 198,789 0.03 191,1284.01
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 1,145,149 0.17 1,921,980-40.42
72 Iron and steel 18,778,637 2.74 14,773,96927.11
73 Articles of iron or steel 2,231,610 0.33 1,120,38999.18
74 Copper and articles thereof 32,573 0.00 264,368-87.68
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 5,246,216 0.76 8,446,454-37.89
78 Lead and articles thereof 0 0.00 520-100.00
79 Zinc and articles thereof 167,912 0.02 244,026-31.19
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 154,149 0.02 999,355-84.58
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 3,316,339 0.48 2,283,63945.22
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 79,833 0.01 30,192164.42
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 27,261,339 3.97 12,586,394116.59
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles 21,189,372 3.09 13,042,48562.46
86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds 719,912 0.10 1,219,947-40.99
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 163,203,042 23.78 48,501,446236.49
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 592,161 0.09 257,498129.97
94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated sign illuminated nameplates and the like; prefabricated buildings 176,511 0.03 40,015341.11
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 5,159 0.00 7,993-35.46
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 52,090 0.01 52,886-1.51
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia