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Russian trade in goods with South Africa in Q4 2020

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 the fourth quarter of 2020: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with South Africa

In the 4th quarter of 2020, Russia’s trade with South Africa was $184,703,040, down 19.97% ($46,075,853) from the 4th quarter of 2019.

Russia’s exports to South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 were $40,627,411, down 19.74% ($9,990,867) from the 4th quarter of 2019.

Russia’s imports from South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 were $144,075,629, down 20.03% ($36,084,986) from the 4th quarter of 2019.

Russia’s trade deficit with South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 was $103,448,218, a 20.14% decrease ($26,094,119) over the 4th quarter of 2019.

South Africa was Russia’s 73rd largest trading partner in the 4th quarter of 2020 (down from 70th in the 4th quarter of 2019), accounting for 0.1140% of Russia’s total trade (down from 0.1283% in the 4th quarter of 2019).

South Africa was Russia’s 89th largest export market in the 4th quarter of 2020 (down from 85th in the 4th quarter of 2019), accounting for 0.0430% of Russia’s total exports (down from 0.0453% in the 4th quarter of 2019).

South Africa was Russia’s 54th largest supplier in the 4th quarter of 2020 (down from 50th in the 4th quarter of 2019), accounting for 0.2130% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.2648% in the 4th quarter of 2019).

Russia’s Exports to South Africa

The major share of Russian exports to South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 (and in the 4th quarter of 2019) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 40.21% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (69.97% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 16.29% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (17.48% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 14.23% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (4.14% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 13.04% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (1.61% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 10.07% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (3.56% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 3.22% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (2.40% in the 4th quarter of 2019).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 over the 4th quarter of 2019 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Cereals (HS code 10) - an increase of $4,378,791;
  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $3,667,817;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $1,458,539;
  • Miscellaneous manufactured articles (HS code 96) - an increase of $982,646;
  • 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 $848,393;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - an increase of $489,764;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $372,257;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - an increase of $287,531;
  • Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations (HS code 36) - an increase of $220,819;
  • Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal (HS code 82) - an increase of $163,905.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 over the 4th quarter of 2019 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Fertilizers (HS code 31) - a decrease of $19,690,240;
  • Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard (HS code 48) - a decrease of $1,202,419;
  • Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard (HS code 47) - a decrease of $740,915;
  • Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes (HS code 28) - a decrease of $483,660;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $388,565;
  • Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (HS code 44) - a decrease of $285,740.
Russia’s exports to South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in Q4 2020,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in Q4 2019,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2020
over Q4 2019
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 64,800 0.16 0
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 16,940 0.04 0
10 Cereals 4,967,659 12.23 588,868743.59
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 28,435 0.07 9,800190.15
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 219,066 0.54 214,2032.27
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 70 0.00 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 19,475 0.05 2886,662.15
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 5,762,935 14.18 2,095,118175.06
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 480,238 1.18 963,898-50.18
29 Organic chemicals 571,775 1.41 82,011597.19
30 Pharmaceutical products 83 0.00 0
31 Fertilizers 12,385,085 30.48 32,075,325-61.39
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 9,976 0.02 3,071224.85
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 18,010 0.04 0
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 50,165 0.12 1,0404,723.56
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 9 0.00 0
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 220,819 0.54 0
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 459,543 1.13 431,5956.48
39 Plastics and articles thereof 1,209,542 2.98 837,28544.46
40 Rubber and articles thereof 929,296 2.29 1,022,880-9.15
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 468 0.00 162,825.00
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 493,954 1.22 779,694-36.65
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 2,086,695 5.14 2,827,610-26.20
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 4,039,159 9.94 5,241,578-22.94
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 16 0.00 22-27.27
54 Man-made filaments 40,900 0.10 0
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 62,461 0.15 1,2504,896.88
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 462 0.00 23596.60
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 26 0.00 215-87.91
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 5,906 0.01 1,106434.00
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 25,817 0.06 1,0902,268.53
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 392 0.00 20987.56
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 23,572 0.06 18,36928.32
65 Headgear and parts thereof 101 0.00 0
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 19,661 0.05 3,322491.84
69 Ceramic products 210 0.00 1,850-88.65
70 Glass and glassware 759 0.00 164,643.75
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 0 0.00 9-100.00
72 Iron and steel 413,159 1.02 801,724-48.47
73 Articles of iron or steel 27,187 0.07 2,3261,068.83
74 Copper and articles thereof 572 0.00 1,278-55.24
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 696,604 1.71 409,07370.29
78 Lead and articles thereof 50 0.00 0
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 164,151 0.40 24666,628.05
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 5,708 0.01 800613.50
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 1,048,318 2.58 1,059,445-1.05
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 1,471,782 3.62 623,389136.09
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 12,896 0.03 19,423-33.60
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 1,559,070 3.84 100,5311,450.84
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 0 0.00 830-100.00
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 4,719 0.01 647,273.44
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 10,139 0.02 5,78675.23
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 982,646 2.42 0
97 Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques 100 0.00 3,870-97.42
SS Classified 15,830 0.04 387 520-95.92

Russia’s Imports from South Africa

The major share of Russian imports from South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 (and in the 4th quarter of 2019) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 30.08% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (30.27% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 30.03% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (26.32% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 27.58% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (23.36% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 8.77% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (12.46% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 3.09% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (1.75% in the 4th quarter of 2019);
  • Precious metals and stones (HS code 71) - 0.05% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (5.63% in the 4th quarter of 2019).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 over the 4th quarter of 2019 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (HS code 84) - an increase of $4,617,217;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - an increase of $1,547,600;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - an increase of $1,399,387;
  • 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 $791,475;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - an increase of $728,386;
  • Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants (HS code 20) - an increase of $587,931.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 over the 4th quarter of 2019 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes (HS code 28) - a decrease of $12,375,579;
  • Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons (HS code 08) - a decrease of $10,413,159;
  • 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) - a decrease of $10,071,318;
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (HS code 87) - a decrease of $9,001,893;
  • Ores, slag and ash (HS code 26) - a decrease of $1,890,937;
  • Beverages, spirits and vinegar (HS code 22) - a decrease of $946,965;
  • Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code 25) - a decrease of $568,041;
  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $537,244.
Russia’s imports from South Africa in the 4th quarter of 2020 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in Q4 2020,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in Q4 2019,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in Q4 2020
over Q4 2019
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage 134,846 0.09 123,5509.14
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 42,347 0.03 93,950-54.93
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 30,490,093 21.16 40,903,252-25.46
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 4,894 0.00 1,045368.33
10 Cereals 30,520 0.02 567,764-94.62
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 575,149 0.40 554,1843.78
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 50,889 0.04 26,20694.19
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 793 0.00 65421.25
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 4,709,384 3.27 4,121,45314.27
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 101,938 0.07 17,736474.75
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 7,159,801 4.97 8,106,766-11.68
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 30,281 0.02 14,042115.65
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 477,784 0.33 1,045,825-54.32
26 Ores, slag and ash 39,098,890 27.14 40,989,827-4.61
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 165,954 0.12 55,392199.60
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 6,487,094 4.50 18,862,673-65.61
29 Organic chemicals 1,623,544 1.13 895,15881.37
30 Pharmaceutical products 0 0.00 155,642-100.00
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 351,048 0.24 326,7717.43
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 135,150 0.09 268,260-49.62
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 412,434 0.29 287,70443.35
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 618,618 0.43 367,52968.32
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 2,089,416 1.45 541,816285.63
39 Plastics and articles thereof 246,692 0.17 172,04243.39
40 Rubber and articles thereof 678,120 0.47 564,51520.12
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 0 0.00 10,903-100.00
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 135,128 0.09 22,427502.52
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 27,368 0.02 12,249123.43
45 Cork and articles of cork 200 0.00 41387.80
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 10,295 0.01 13,298-22.58
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 17,192 0.01 20,594-16.52
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric 9,996 0.01 2,215351.29
54 Man-made filaments 36,247 0.03 66,723-45.68
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 0 0.00 8,589-100.00
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 24,742 0.02 29,072-14.89
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 1,640 0.00 8,001-79.50
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 1,286 0.00 3,243-60.35
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 157 0.00 1,095-85.66
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 0 0.00 2,411-100.00
65 Headgear and parts thereof 0 0.00 1,522-100.00
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 1,278 0.00 8,657-85.24
69 Ceramic products 222,716 0.15 50,195343.70
70 Glass and glassware 23,402 0.02 3,705531.63
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 70,997 0.05 10,142,315-99.30
72 Iron and steel 3,858,807 2.68 2,459,42056.90
73 Articles of iron or steel 268,662 0.19 368,347-27.06
74 Copper and articles thereof 5,158 0.00 56,465-90.87
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 65,663 0.05 121,378-45.90
78 Lead and articles thereof 70 0.00 0
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 118,712 0.08 59,100100.87
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 137,058 0.10 73,67886.02
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 2,510 0.00 7,090-64.60
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 18,861,268 13.09 14,244,05132.42
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 1,497,291 1.04 705,816112.14
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 167,363 0.12 592,279-71.74
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 22,545,835 15.65 31,547,728-28.53
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 94,020 0.07 0
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 102,446 0.07 335,193-69.44
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 4,358 0.00 2,83853.56
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 2,117 0.00 2,1070.47
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 9,186 0.01 11,458-19.83
SS Classified 36,782 0.03 102 656-64.17
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia