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Russian foreign trade
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Russian trade with South Africa in 2018

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 2018: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with South Africa

In 2018, Russia’s trade with South Africa totaled $1,068,799,374, up 28.46% ($236,769,490) from 2017.

Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2018 totaled $285,733,192, up 40.16% ($81,866,099) from 2017.

Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2018 totaled $783,066,182, up 24.66% ($154,903,391) from 2017.

Russia’s trade deficit with South Africa in 2018 was $497,332,990, a 17.21% increase ($73,037,292) over 2017.

South Africa was Russia’s 67th largest trading partner in 2018 (up from 68th in 2017), accounting for 0.1553% of Russia’s total trade (up from 0.1425% in 2017).

South Africa was Russia’s 85th largest export market in 2018 (up from 86th in 2017), accounting for 0.0635% of Russia’s total exports (up from 0.0571% in 2017).

South Africa was Russia’s 44th largest supplier in 2018 (up from 48th in 2017), accounting for 0.3288% of Russia’s total imports (up from 0.2768% in 2017).

Russia’s Exports to South Africa

The major share of Russian exports to South Africa in 2018 (and in 2017) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 54.48% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (44.61% in 2017);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 19.73% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (11.37% in 2017);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 9.37% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (21.73% in 2017);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 9.23% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (10.94% in 2017);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 3.76% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (4.61% in 2017);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 3.02% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (6.41% in 2017).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Cereals (HS code 10) - an increase of $62,931,313;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - an increase of $25,990,353;
  • Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard (HS code 47) - an increase of $5,825,279;
  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $5,055,365;
  • 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 $4,340,624;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - an increase of $2,040,903;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $1,737,192;
  • Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (HS code 44) - an increase of $1,383,107;
  • Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code 03) - an increase of $1,090,525;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $1,025,629.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Fertilizers (HS code 31) - a decrease of $20,295,433;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $3,596,014;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $1,981,417;
  • 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) - a decrease of $1,788,972;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - a decrease of $1,775,586;
  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $983,257.
Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2018 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in 2018,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2018
over 2017
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 1,090,525 0.38 0
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 270,585 0.09 171,31057.95
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 534,270 0.19 210,917153.31
10 Cereals 152,678,436 53.43 89,747,12370.12
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 0 0.00 2-100.00
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 70,065 0.02 15,939339.58
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 209 0.00 0
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 100 0.00 0
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 992,263 0.35 738,96134.28
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 35,493 0.01 59,599-40.45
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 1,422 0.00 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 22 0.00 983,279-100.00
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 26,376,703 9.23 21,321,33823.71
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 9,966,146 3.49 5,625,52277.16
29 Organic chemicals 142,544 0.05 252,013-43.44
30 Pharmaceutical products 8,600 0.00 5,79548.40
31 Fertilizers 6,205,209 2.17 26,500,642-76.58
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 4,677 0.00 6,419-27.14
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 59,984 0.02 29,264104.98
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 4,506 0.00 8,318-45.83
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 7 0.00 52-86.54
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 93,378 0.03 25,367268.11
37 Photographic or cinematographic goods 15 0.00 0
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 2,328,142 0.81 2,011,25215.76
39 Plastics and articles thereof 2,554,463 0.89 817,271212.56
40 Rubber and articles thereof 5,418,290 1.90 9,014,304-39.89
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 267,045 0.09 0
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 6,144 0.00 2,109191.32
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 3,515,768 1.23 2,132,66164.85
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 15,972,576 5.59 10,147,29757.41
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 36,865,194 12.90 10,874,841239.00
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 13,685 0.00 20,924-34.60
52 Cotton 0 0.00 77-100.00
53 Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabric of paper yarn 89 0.00 94-5.32
54 Man-made filaments 135,210 0.05 108,60824.49
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 210,866 0.07 99,925111.02
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 73 0.00 5046.00
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 5,100 0.00 4371,067.05
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 5,459 0.00 2,435124.19
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 42,772 0.01 10,932291.26
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 8,418 0.00 22,433-62.47
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 21,646 0.01 32,952-34.31
65 Headgear and parts thereof 1,896 0.00 286562.94
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 33,076 0.01 11,394190.29
69 Ceramic products 38,058 0.01 5496,832.24
70 Glass and glassware 39,535 0.01 19,593101.78
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 875 0.00 0
72 Iron and steel 7,127,881 2.49 9,109,298-21.75
73 Articles of iron or steel 159,698 0.06 185,871-14.08
74 Copper and articles thereof 5,114 0.00 7,507-31.88
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 649,926 0.23 2,425,512-73.20
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 671,323 0.23 1,327,753-49.44
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 5,660 0.00 5,09511.09
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 2,307,621 0.81 1,281,99280.00
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 2,684,869 0.94 4,473,841-39.99
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 2,278 0.00 20,195-88.72
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 2,909,746 1.02 868,843234.90
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 2,852,517 1.00 2,761,4423.30
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 900 0.00 310190.32
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 5,901 0.00 5,8870.24
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 23,068 0.01 12,63382.60
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 66,902 0.02 131,089-48.96
SS Classified 240,249 0.08 217 54110.44

Russia’s Imports from South Africa

The major share of Russian imports from South Africa in 2018 (and in 2017) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 36.52% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (41.86% in 2017);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 31.19% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (23.97% in 2017);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 15.32% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (9.46% in 2017);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 10.81% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (15.73% in 2017);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 5.25% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (8.63% in 2017).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Ores, slag and ash (HS code 26) - an increase of $93,039,982;
  • 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 $56,698,590;
  • Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons (HS code 08) - an increase of $16,781,573;
  • Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants (HS code 20) - an increase of $7,802,571;
  • 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 $5,243,994;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - an increase of $4,117,456.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2018 over 2017 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $10,667,947;
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - a decrease of $9,673,143;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $3,051,742;
  • Beverages, spirits and vinegar (HS code 22) - a decrease of $2,739,391.
Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2018 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in 2018,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in 2017,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2018
over 2017
01 Live animals 8,188 0.00 26,881-69.54
05 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 17,415 0.00 21,115-17.52
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage 483,205 0.06 848,848-43.08
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 771,662 0.10 399,78493.02
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 231,252,404 29.53 214,470,8317.82
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 42,182 0.01 38,5039.56
10 Cereals 1,211,387 0.15 316,660282.55
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 3,777 0.00 4,613-18.12
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 1,281,347 0.16 1,049,31022.11
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 9,028 0.00 7,44121.33
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 130,076 0.02 151,990-14.42
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 8,518 0.00 11,880-28.30
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 350 0.00 939-62.73
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 22,129,081 2.83 14,326,51054.46
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 168,366 0.02 150,02712.22
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 28,281,032 3.61 31,020,423-8.83
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal feed 58,310 0.01 85,321-31.66
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 84,250 0.01 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 4,009,198 0.51 3,234,76223.94
26 Ores, slag and ash 239,678,748 30.61 146,638,76663.45
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 584,004 0.07 676,009-13.61
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 100,883,478 12.88 44,184,888128.32
29 Organic chemicals 4,757,622 0.61 5,654,403-15.86
30 Pharmaceutical products 75,566 0.01 93,678-19.33
31 Fertilizers 86,924 0.01 14,471500.68
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 823,422 0.11 862,431-4.52
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 649,424 0.08 510,22427.28
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 1,080,560 0.14 171,826528.87
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 265,742 0.03 81,441226.30
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 6,935,065 0.89 2,817,609146.13
39 Plastics and articles thereof 1,705,988 0.22 766,164122.67
40 Rubber and articles thereof 2,723,298 0.35 4,248,134-35.89
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 17,828 0.00 0
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 55,290 0.01 73,995-25.28
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 44,217 0.01 31,85938.79
45 Cork and articles of cork 2 0.00 1100.00
46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork 31 0.00 0
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 17,472 0.00 15,72511.11
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 63,869 0.01 33,87188.57
50 Silk 954 0.00 0
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric 32,469 0.00 29,30410.80
52 Cotton 183 0.00 15617.31
54 Man-made filaments 694,280 0.09 562,82723.36
55 Man-made staple fibers 0 0.00 489,624-100.00
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 0 0.00 1,159-100.00
57 Carpets and other textile floor coverings 0 0.00 3,803-100.00
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 32,694 0.00 9,834232.46
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 39,876 0.01 107,533-62.92
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 9,767 0.00 30,288-67.75
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 7,500 0.00 10,503-28.59
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 21,695 0.00 9,264134.19
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 111,422 0.01 31235,612.18
65 Headgear and parts thereof 0 0.00 9,107-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 19,993 0.00 29,732-32.76
69 Ceramic products 33,521 0.00 104,548-67.94
70 Glass and glassware 128,649 0.02 65,24497.18
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 5,507,170 0.70 263,1761,992.58
72 Iron and steel 34,470,317 4.40 45,138,264-23.63
73 Articles of iron or steel 1,829,836 0.23 3,287,424-44.34
74 Copper and articles thereof 544,917 0.07 42,6051,179.00
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 2,191,425 0.28 3,399,933-35.55
78 Lead and articles thereof 0 0.00 29-100.00
79 Zinc and articles thereof 549,323 0.07 778,663-29.45
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 717,077 0.09 479,00849.70
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 760,560 0.10 1,069,165-28.86
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 70,603 0.01 15,648351.20
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 18,674,152 2.38 28,347,295-34.12
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 4,315,609 0.55 6,049,678-28.66
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 819,045 0.10 2,345,947-65.09
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 58,320,223 7.45 61,371,965-4.97
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 2,533,748 0.32 717,226253.27
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof 200 0.00 1,783-88.78
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 74,825 0.01 119,051-37.15
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 8,930 0.00 6,74732.36
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 107,981 0.01 75,27143.46
SS Classified 38,912 0.00 149 342-73.94
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia