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Russian foreign trade
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Russian trade with South Africa in 2021

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 2021: exports, imports, products, dynamics.

Russia’s Trade with South Africa

In 2021, Russia’s trade with South Africa totaled $1,138,522,578, up 15.97% ($156,756,229) from 2020.

Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2021 totaled $342,222,010, up 18.67% ($53,837,144) from 2020.

Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2021 totaled $796,300,568, up 14.84% ($102,919,085) from 2020.

Russia’s trade deficit with South Africa in 2021 was $454,078,558, a 12.12% increase ($49,081,941) over 2020.

South Africa was Russia’s 67th largest trading partner in 2021 (down from 64th in 2020), accounting for 0.1450% of Russia’s total trade (down from 0.1729% in 2020).

South Africa was Russia’s 79th largest export market in 2021 (down from 73rd in 2020), accounting for 0.0696% of Russia’s total exports (down from 0.0857% in 2020).

South Africa was Russia’s 47th largest supplier in 2021 (down from 46th in 2020), accounting for 0.2714% of Russia’s total imports (down from 0.2996% in 2020).

Russia’s Exports to South Africa

The major share of Russian exports to South Africa in 2021 (and in 2020) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 53.87% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (16.47% in 2020);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 18.21% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (20.36% in 2020);
  • Wood and wood products (HS codes 44-49) - 9.23% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (8.98% in 2020);
  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 8.44% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (40.53% in 2020);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 6.69% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (2.98% in 2020);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 2.40% of Russia’s total exports to South Africa (9.78% in 2020).

The largest gains in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2021 over 2020 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Fertilizers (HS code 31) - an increase of $86,861,394;
  • Plastics and articles thereof (HS code 39) - an increase of $31,926,182;
  • 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 $9,306,550;
  • Ships, boats and floating structures (HS code 89) - an increase of $8,183,000;
  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof (HS code 90) - an increase of $5,488,332;
  • Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard (HS code 47) - an increase of $3,872,204;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - an increase of $3,721,200;
  • Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes (HS code 27) - an increase of $3,454,597;
  • Organic chemicals (HS code 29) - an increase of $2,620,085;
  • Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal (HS code 44) - an increase of $1,954,511;
  • 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 $1,634,711;
  • Aluminum and articles thereof (HS code 76) - an increase of $1,623,071;
  • Pharmaceutical products (HS code 30) - an increase of $1,121,051;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - an increase of $1,088,976.

The largest declines in Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2021 over 2020 were recorded for the following product groups:

  • Cereals (HS code 10) - a decrease of $89,204,367;
  • Iron and steel (HS code 72) - a decrease of $21,749,041.
Russia’s exports to South Africa in 2021 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of exports
in 2021,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total export Value of exports
in 2020,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2021
over 2020
01 Live animals 100 0.00 0
03 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates 0 0.00 64,800-100.00
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 0 0.00 1,180-100.00
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 505,342 0.15 297,39169.93
10 Cereals 26,300,292 7.69 115,504,659-77.23
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten 274,831 0.08 62,606338.99
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 61,193 0.02 93,101-34.27
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 610 0.00 0
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 953,720 0.28 153,000523.35
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 60 0.00 0
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; bakers’ wares 160 0.00 0
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 539,111 0.16 703,964-23.42
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 76,639 0.02 13,066486.55
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 81,177 0.02 0
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 17,246 0.01 22,975-24.94
26 Ores, slag and ash 0 0.00 1,320-100.00
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 62,132,893 18.16 58,678,2965.89
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 11,369,106 3.32 2,062,556451.21
29 Organic chemicals 3,213,253 0.94 593,168441.71
30 Pharmaceutical products 1,122,573 0.33 1,52273,656.44
31 Fertilizers 123,364,212 36.05 36,502,818237.96
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 1,840 0.00 10,264-82.07
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 48,486 0.01 73,030-33.61
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 24,160 0.01 88,310-72.64
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 0 0.00 13-100.00
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 0 0.00 220,819-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 2,633,036 0.77 1,544,06070.53
39 Plastics and articles thereof 35,245,356 10.30 3,319,174961.87
40 Rubber and articles thereof 6,804,792 1.99 3,083,592120.68
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 27,612 0.01 0
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 357 0.00 1,122-68.18
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 3,989,499 1.17 2,034,98896.05
47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; waste and scrap of paper or paperboard 12,153,403 3.55 8,281,19946.76
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 15,359,358 4.49 15,568,244-1.34
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 6,531 0.00 5,9479.82
54 Man-made filaments 309,103 0.09 85,102263.21
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 224,579 0.07 184,49221.73
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 767 0.00 1,319-41.85
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 4,013 0.00 545636.33
60 Knitted or crocheted fabrics 0 0.00 230-100.00
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 13,089 0.00 18,556-29.46
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 38,694 0.01 50,060-22.70
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 4,064 0.00 623552.33
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 89,855 0.03 53,89166.73
65 Headgear and parts thereof 752 0.00 194287.63
66 Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking sticks, seatsticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof 668 0.00 0
67 Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair 1,987 0.00 0
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 71,701 0.02 57,40124.91
69 Ceramic products 6,812 0.00 5,39026.38
70 Glass and glassware 52,678 0.02 1,0884,741.73
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 1,634,724 0.48 1312,574,700.00
72 Iron and steel 5,146,371 1.50 26,895,412-80.87
73 Articles of iron or steel 59,520 0.02 96,872-38.56
74 Copper and articles thereof 3,362 0.00 2,16955.00
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 2,479,085 0.72 856,014189.61
78 Lead and articles thereof 0 0.00 50-100.00
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 173 0.00 0
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 478,568 0.14 329,42245.28
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 7,494 0.00 12,753-41.24
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 3,155,823 0.92 2,337,27935.02
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 2,901,001 0.85 3,409,337-14.91
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 389,330 0.11 124,154213.59
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 8,183,000 2.39 0
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 8,216,542 2.40 2,728,210201.17
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles 0 0.00 915-100.00
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 4,047 0.00 4,778-15.30
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 164,315 0.05 23,010614.10
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 1,306,178 0.38 1,324,534-1.39
97 Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques 2,220 0.00 1,44553.63
SS Classified 0 0.00 792 424-100.00

Russia’s Imports from South Africa

The major share of Russian imports from South Africa in 2021 (and in 2020) was accounted for the following product types:

  • Food products and agricultural raw materials (HS codes 01-24) - 43.43% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (46.48% in 2020);
  • Machinery, equipment and vehicles (HS codes 84-90) - 22.26% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (18.27% in 2020);
  • Mineral products (HS codes 25-27) - 21.50% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (21.96% in 2020);
  • Chemical products (HS codes 28-40) - 5.21% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (7.98% in 2020);
  • Precious metals and stones (HS code 71) - 5.09% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (2.88% in 2020);
  • Metals and products from them (HS codes 72-83) - 2.32% of Russia’s total imports from South Africa (2.26% in 2020).

The largest gains in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2021 over 2020 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 $54,128,755;
  • 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 $20,573,886;
  • Ores, slag and ash (HS code 26) - an increase of $18,801,158;
  • Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons (HS code 08) - an increase of $13,916,680;
  • Beverages, spirits and vinegar (HS code 22) - an increase of $5,103,429;
  • Miscellaneous chemical products (HS code 38) - an increase of $4,767,249;
  • Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants (HS code 20) - an increase of $3,847,771.

The largest declines in Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2021 over 2020 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 $11,442,929;
  • Rubber and articles thereof (HS code 40) - a decrease of $9,913,262.
Russia’s imports from South Africa in 2021 by product groups
HS
code
Name of product group Value of imports in 2021,
US dollars ($)
Percent share in total import Value of imports in 2020,
US dollars ($)
Percent change
in 2021
over 2020
05 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 13,822 0.00 0
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage 481,112 0.06 333,58144.23
07 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 735,783 0.09 406,96580.80
08 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons 298,701,669 37.51 284,784,9894.89
09 Coffee, tea, maté and spices 7,535 0.00 125,371-93.99
10 Cereals 293,645 0.04 440,363-33.32
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 1,065,258 0.13 1,611,434-33.89
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 1,477 0.00 0
15 Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 72,157 0.01 78,347-7.90
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery 72 0.00 7,416-99.03
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations 0 0.00 5,374-100.00
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 17,707,116 2.22 13,859,34527.76
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations 820,560 0.10 183,141348.05
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar 25,418,439 3.19 20,315,01025.12
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 274,877 0.03 130,038111.38
25 Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement 1,759,158 0.22 1,671,2085.26
26 Ores, slag and ash 168,885,896 21.21 150,084,73812.53
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes 462,774 0.06 490,400-5.63
28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals,of radioactive elements or of isotopes 16,798,740 2.11 28,241,669-40.52
29 Organic chemicals 5,960,119 0.75 4,521,46831.82
30 Pharmaceutical products 262,992 0.03 171,60053.26
31 Fertilizers 118,291 0.01 159,695-25.93
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and mastics 1,038,660 0.13 851,02822.05
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 410,961 0.05 324,64026.59
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 503,305 0.06 737,825-31.79
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 3,527,997 0.44 2,488,68641.76
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations 0 0.00 48,316-100.00
38 Miscellaneous chemical products 9,467,835 1.19 4,700,586101.42
39 Plastics and articles thereof 1,028,893 0.13 806,20527.62
40 Rubber and articles thereof 2,354,094 0.30 12,267,356-80.81
41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 6,810 0.00 0
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 132,612 0.02 188,515-29.65
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof 131,183 0.02 0
44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal 14,120 0.00 42,036-66.41
45 Cork and articles of cork 403 0.00 34217.84
46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork 0 0.00 31-100.00
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard 13,534 0.00 15,709-13.85
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans 18,429 0.00 28,372-35.05
50 Silk 0 0.00 738-100.00
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric 145,444 0.02 37,776285.02
52 Cotton 272 0.00 0
54 Man-made filaments 0 0.00 276,346-100.00
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns, twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 642 0.00 0
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace, tapestries; trimmings; embroidery 1,484 0.00 248498.39
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use 93,878 0.01 49,32290.34
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted 13,350 0.00 13,535-1.37
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted 16,377 0.00 5,322207.72
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 8,194 0.00 2333,416.74
64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles 116,078 0.01 43126,832.25
65 Headgear and parts thereof 82 0.00 37121.62
67 Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair 22 0.00 0
68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials 63,008 0.01 21,706190.28
69 Ceramic products 126,060 0.02 315,646-60.06
70 Glass and glassware 22,747 0.00 51,724-56.02
71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 40,534,493 5.09 19,960,607103.07
72 Iron and steel 14,229,327 1.79 12,221,12316.43
73 Articles of iron or steel 1,850,187 0.23 1,587,84816.52
74 Copper and articles thereof 26,685 0.00 275,208-90.30
76 Aluminum and articles thereof 292,447 0.04 169,42472.61
78 Lead and articles thereof 30,703 0.00 7043,761.43
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 1,037,141 0.13 401,739158.16
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal 992,571 0.12 1,008,634-1.59
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal 19,126 0.00 16,34517.01
84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 60,382,136 7.58 62,657,393-3.63
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 4,174,665 0.52 5,319,781-21.53
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 1,287,114 0.16 1,562,049-17.60
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof 110,566,111 13.88 56,437,35695.91
89 Ships, boats and floating structures 0 0.00 94,020-100.00
90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 735,585 0.09 607,51221.08
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 20,616 0.00 39,254-47.48
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof 20,745 0.00 6,622213.27
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 167,217 0.02 84,85397.07
97 Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques 243,436 0.03 0
SS Classified 0 0.00 36 782-100.00
Russian foreign trade statistics
Source: Federal Customs Service of Russia