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South Africa-Mozambique Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $7.19B total volume •South Africa surplus: $5.10B

South AfricaMozambique

$6.14B

Exports (2023)

MozambiqueSouth Africa

$1.04B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$5.10B

Surplus for South Africa

Total Trade

$7.19B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between South Africa and Mozambique. Green line shows exports from South Africa, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the South Africa-Mozambique commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

South AfricaMozambique Exports

$6.14B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
26.6% top product
1Chromium ores and concentrates
$1.63B
26.6% of exports
2Ferro-alloys: ferro-chromium, containing by weight more than 4% of carbon
$1.05B
17.1% of exports
3Iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated
$522.52M
8.5% of exports
4Coal: bituminous, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated
$357.43M
5.8% of exports
5Electrical energy
$284.66M
4.6% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

South Africa's export portfolio to Mozambique demonstrates strategic specialization, with chromium ores and concentrates representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

MozambiqueSouth Africa Imports

$1.04B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
39.1% concentration
1Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas
$407.50M
39.1% of imports
2Electrical energy
$340.45M
32.7% of imports
3Wigs, false beards, eyebrows and eyelashes, switches and the like and other articles n.e.c.: of animal hair or of textile materials other than synthetic
$44.00M
4.2% of imports
4Coal: bituminous, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated
$36.54M
3.5% of imports
5Fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried
$29.17M
2.8% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

South Africa's import pattern from Mozambique reveals significant dependencyin petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

South Africa demonstrates competitive strength in exportingchromium ores and concentrates to Mozambique, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $7.19B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: South Africa-Mozambique Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $7.19 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: South Africa maintains a surplus of $5.10 billion
  • Export Focus: South Africa's primary exports include chromium ores and concentrates, ferro-alloys: ferro-chromium, containing by weight more than 4% of carbon, iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Mozambique include petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas, electrical energy, wigs, false beards, eyebrows and eyelashes, switches and the like and other articles n.e.c.: of animal hair or of textile materials other than synthetic

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $7.19B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with South Africa leveraging its comparative advantages in chromium ores and concentrates.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

South Africa's specialization in chromium ores and concentratescomplements Mozambique's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $7.19B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $7.19B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $7.19 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in chromium ores and concentrates and petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

South Africa's trade surplus of $5.10 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in ferro-alloys: ferro-chromium, containing by weight more than 4% of carbon present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in chromium ores and concentrates may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between South Africa and Mozambique represents a total trade volume of $7.19 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for South Africa, with exports exceeding importsby $5.10 billion.

Export Strengths

South Africa's exports to Mozambique total $6.14 billion, with competitive advantages in chromium ores and concentrates, representing $1.63B or26.6% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Mozambique amount to $1.04 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas, with Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, natural gas comprising39.1% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates South Africa's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between South Africa and Mozambique in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023