Country profile
South Africa
Africa's most industrial economy and the world's main source of platinum-group metals, chrome and manganese.
Updated 11 November 2026. Sources at the bottom of the page.
- Capital
- Pretoria
- Population
- 63.9 million (2026)
- Currency
- South African rand (ZAR)
- GDP, 2026
- US$489 billion
- Exports, 2025
- US$116.8 billion
- Exchange rate
- 1 USD = 16.52 ZAR (10 Nov 2026)
Economy
IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026. 2026 and 2027 are IMF projections.
1%Real GDP growth, 2026
1.3%Real GDP growth, 2027
4.4%Inflation, 2026
33.2%Unemployment, 2026
78% of GDPGovernment debt, 2026
-0.7% of GDPCurrent account, 2026
Compare South Africa with other countries →
Trade
Top export markets
Share of the country’s exports, 2025
- China (12.3%)
- Germany (8.3%)
- United States (7.7%)
- Japan (6.1%)
- United Kingdom (5.7%)
Main exports
Product groups, share of exports
- Gems and precious metals, mainly platinum-group metals and gold (20.3%)
- Ores, including iron, manganese and chrome (15.5%)
- Vehicles and parts (13.1%)
- Mineral fuels, mainly coal (8.1%)
- Fruits and nuts (5.1%)
Main trade agreements
- Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC) Free Trade Area
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
- EU–SADC and UK–SACU+M economic partnership agreements
Trade policy to watch
- Logistics: rail and port bottlenecks at state operator Transnet have delayed exports; reforms are opening the network to private operators.
- Electricity: power cuts (load-shedding) have eased since 2024, but the grid is still constrained.
- Black economic empowerment (B-BBEE): ownership and procurement rules affect who can win local contracts.
Energy
Coal produces most of South Africa's electricity, with one nuclear plant (Koeberg) and fast-growing solar and wind. Oil is imported.
What it means for your supply chain
- South Africa is a critical source of platinum, palladium and rhodium for catalysts, and of chrome and manganese for steel.
- Allow extra time for port and rail delays on South African shipments.
- Automotive exports come mostly from German and Japanese carmakers’ local plants.
South Africa in the Supplier Hub
1 company in the Supplier Hub is listed under South Africa.
Sources
- IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026: GDP, growth, inflation, unemployment, government debt, current account (2026 and 2027 are projections; updated automatically).
- IMF, World Economic Outlook database: population (2026 estimate).
- World’s Top Exports: export markets and main exports.
- Bank of Canada, daily exchange rates (cross rates calculated from CAD rates; updated daily).
- Energy Institute, Statistical Review of World Energy 2026: energy profile.
Figures are the latest published at the time of the update and may since have been revised. This page is for general information, not investment or legal advice.