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Russian foreign trade
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Russian trade with South Africa in 2017

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 2017: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with South Africa

In 2017, Russia’s trade with South Africa totaled $832,029,884, up 15.94% ($114,372,287) from 2016.

Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2017 totaled $203,867,093, up 3.70% ($7,282,999) from 2016.

Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2017 totaled $628,162,791, up 20.55% ($107,089,288) from 2016.

Russia’s trade deficit with South Africa in 2017 was $424,295,698, a 30.76% increase ($99,806,289) over 2016.

South Africa was Russia’s 68th largest trading partner in 2017 (just as in 2016), accounting for 0.1425% of Russia’s total trade (down from 0.1534% in 2016).

South Africa was Russia’s 86th largest export market in 2017 (down from 82nd in 2016), accounting for 0.0571% of Russia’s total exports (down from 0.0689% in 2016).

South Africa was Russia’s 48th largest supplier in 2017 (just as in 2016), accounting for 0.2768% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.2859% in 2016).

Russia’s Exports to South Africa

The major share of Russian exports to South Africa in 2017 (and in 2016) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 44.61% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (61.46% in 2016);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 21.73% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (11.66% in 2016);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 11.37% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (3.86% in 2016);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 10.94% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (6.01% in 2016);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 6.41% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (8.47% in 2016);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 4.61% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (7.06% in 2016).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2017 over 2016 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Fertilizers (HS code 31) - an increase of $15,981,650;
  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $10,471,022;
  • Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard (HS code 47) - an increase of $7,787,200;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - an increase of $7,713,068;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - an increase of $3,105,457;
  • 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 $2,893,129;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - an increase of $1,845,873;
  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - an increase of $929,831;
  • Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal (HS code 82) - an increase of $895,872;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $665,348.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2017 over 2016 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $29,294,718;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - a decrease of $7,720,826;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - a decrease of $5,882,803;
  • Ores, slag and ash (HS code 26) - a decrease of $912,183;
  • Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof (HS code 56) - a decrease of $691,460.
Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2017 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in 2016,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2017
over 2016
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 171,310 0.08 0
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 210,917 0.10 232,498-9.28
10 Cereals 89,747,123 44.02 119,041,841-24.61
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 2 0.00 21,518-99.99
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 15,939 0.01 8,25093.20
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 0 0.00 25-100.00
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 738,961 0.36 867,992-14.87
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 59,599 0.03 87,730-32.07
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 0 0.00 564,678-100.00
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 983,279 0.48 53,4481,739.69
26 Ores, slag and ash 0 0.00 912,183-100.00
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 21,321,338 10.46 10,850,31696.50
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 5,625,522 2.76 2,732,393105.88
29 Organic chemicals 252,013 0.12 94,617166.35
30 Pharmaceutical products 5,795 0.00 11,808-50.92
31 Fertilizers 26,500,642 13.00 10,518,992151.93
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 6,419 0.00 3,92663.50
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 29,264 0.01 43,285-32.39
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 8,318 0.00 46,628-82.16
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 52 0.00 0
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 25,367 0.01 0
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 2,011,252 0.99 1,486,00535.35
39 Plastics and articles thereof 817,271 0.40 806,4251.34
40 Rubber and articles thereof 9,014,304 4.42 7,168,43125.75
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 2,109 0.00 13,210-84.03
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 2,132,661 1.05 2,068,2223.12
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 10,147,297 4.98 2,360,097329.95
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 10,874,841 5.33 3,161,773243.95
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 20,924 0.01 7,680172.45
52 Cotton 77 0.00 0
53 Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabric of paper yarn 94 0.00 0
54 Man-made filaments 108,608 0.05 105,0793.36
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 99,925 0.05 791,385-87.37
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 50 0.00 0
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 437 0.00 202,085.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 2,435 0.00 8,897-72.63
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 10,932 0.01 32,636-66.50
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 22,433 0.01 3,582526.27
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 32,952 0.02 29,55711.49
65 Headgear and parts thereof 286 0.00 364-21.43
66 Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking sticks, seatsticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof 0 0.00 170-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 11,394 0.01 31,239-63.53
69 Ceramic products 549 0.00 2,200-75.05
70 Glass and glassware 19,593 0.01 25,673-23.68
72 Iron and steel 9,109,298 4.47 6,003,84151.72
73 Articles of iron or steel 185,871 0.09 71,327160.59
74 Copper and articles thereof 7,507 0.00 1,690344.20
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 2,425,512 1.19 10,146,338-76.09
78 Lead and articles thereof 0 0.00 39-100.00
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 1,327,753 0.65 431,881207.43
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 5,095 0.00 2,86877.65
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 1,281,992 0.63 937,94436.68
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 4,473,841 2.19 4,082,8179.58
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 20,195 0.01 2,621670.51
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 868,843 0.43 203,495326.96
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 2,761,442 1.35 8,644,245-68.05
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 0 0.00 469-100.00
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 310 0.00 0
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 5,887 0.00 48,087-87.76
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 12,633 0.01 5,919113.43
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 131,089 0.06 1,3989,276.90
97 Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques 0 0.00 38,990-100.00
SS Classified 217,541 0.11 1 765 352-87.68

Russia’s Imports from South Africa

The major share of Russian imports from South Africa in 2017 (and in 2016) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 41.86% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (38.34% in 2016);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 23.97% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (28.98% in 2016);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 15.73% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (13.69% in 2016);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 9.46% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (7.92% in 2016);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 8.63% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (10.68% in 2016).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2017 over 2016 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons (HS code 08) - an increase of $55,635,005;
  • 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 $17,172,304;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $13,389,944;
  • Ores, slag and ash (HS code 26) - an increase of $11,523,023;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $9,550,394;
  • Beverages, spirits and vinegar (HS code 22) - an increase of $7,689,146;
  • 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 $3,120,821;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - an increase of $2,930,026;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - an increase of $1,966,445.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2017 over 2016 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $11,787,914;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - a decrease of $3,915,563;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $2,517,203.
Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2017 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in 2016,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2017
over 2016
01 Live animals 26,881 0.00 2,611929.53
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 109,200-100.00
05 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 21,115 0.00 30,857-31.57
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage 848,848 0.14 791,8547.20
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 399,784 0.06 69,587474.51
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 214,470,831 34.14 158,835,82635.03
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 38,503 0.01 114,259-66.30
10 Cereals 316,660 0.05 712,833-55.58
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 4,613 0.00 0
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 1,049,310 0.17 779,06934.69
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 7,441 0.00 0
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 151,990 0.02 144,9854.83
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 0 0.00 1,757-100.00
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 11,880 0.00 2,756331.06
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 939 0.00 81115.78
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 14,326,510 2.28 14,199,4360.89
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 150,027 0.02 132,16913.51
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 31,020,423 4.94 23,331,27732.96
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed 85,321 0.01 67,00227.34
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 0 0.00 467,451-100.00
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 3,234,762 0.51 15,022,676-78.47
26 Ores, slag and ash 146,638,766 23.34 135,115,7438.53
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 676,009 0.11 882,843-23.43
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 44,184,888 7.03 27,012,58463.57
29 Organic chemicals 5,654,403 0.90 2,724,377107.55
30 Pharmaceutical products 93,678 0.01 32,410189.04
31 Fertilizers 14,471 0.00 0
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 862,431 0.14 517,91266.52
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 510,224 0.08 419,49121.63
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 171,826 0.03 183,242-6.23
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 81,441 0.01 31,073162.10
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 2,817,609 0.45 6,733,172-58.15
39 Plastics and articles thereof 766,164 0.12 1,321,271-42.01
40 Rubber and articles thereof 4,248,134 0.68 2,281,68986.18
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 0 0.00 18,099-100.00
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 73,995 0.01 69,9005.86
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 31,859 0.01 44,333-28.14
45 Cork and articles of cork 1 0.00 6-83.33
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 15,725 0.00 43,954-64.22
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 33,871 0.01 29,52514.72
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric 29,304 0.00 52,995-44.70
52 Cotton 156 0.00 840-81.43
53 Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabric of paper yarn 0 0.00 987-100.00
54 Man-made filaments 562,827 0.09 685,001-17.84
55 Man-made staple fibers 489,624 0.08 46,459953.88
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 1,159 0.00 153657.52
57 Carpets and other textile floor coverings 3,803 0.00 0
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 9,834 0.00 0
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 107,533 0.02 31,184244.83
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 30,288 0.00 1,2172,388.74
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 10,503 0.00 5,90577.87
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 9,264 0.00 7,80618.68
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 312 0.00 651-52.07
65 Headgear and parts thereof 9,107 0.00 1446,224.31
67 Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair 0 0.00 33-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 29,732 0.00 61,338-51.53
69 Ceramic products 104,548 0.02 150,645-30.60
70 Glass and glassware 65,244 0.01 94,923-31.27
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 263,176 0.04 126,787107.57
72 Iron and steel 45,138,264 7.19 47,655,467-5.28
73 Articles of iron or steel 3,287,424 0.52 2,199,89249.44
74 Copper and articles thereof 42,605 0.01 13,843207.77
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 3,399,933 0.54 3,271,5803.92
78 Lead and articles thereof 29 0.00 0
79 Zinc and articles thereof 778,663 0.12 437,37678.03
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 479,008 0.08 1,067,583-55.13
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 1,069,165 0.17 951,58912.36
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 15,648 0.00 54,788-71.44
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 28,347,295 4.51 14,957,35189.52
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 6,049,678 0.96 2,928,857106.55
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 2,345,947 0.37 757,178209.83
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 61,371,965 9.77 51,821,57118.43
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 717,226 0.11 868,444-17.41
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 1,783 0.00 0
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 0 0.00 992-100.00
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 119,051 0.02 75,36257.97
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 6,747 0.00 1,606320.11
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 75,271 0.01 64,32317.02
SS Classified 149,342 0.02 400 593-62.72
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia