Key Country Contacts
Trade Overview
Over the past two decades, South Africa’s post-apartheid government has made remarkable progress. With an average GDP growth of 4 percent and trade accounting for 68 percent of GDP, South Africa’s future looks bright. Their peaceful transition to democracy, priorities given to economic growth and dedication to human rights allowed South Africa to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which solidified their place on the world stage.
(US Department of State and World Trade Organization)
South Africa is the 37th largest trading partner with the United States, with exports tripling over the past decade. The United States is South Africa's largest trading partner.
The United States exported $7.3 billion to South Africa in 2011, with 25.3 percent being machinery, except electrical. Each category of Transportation equipment (14.3 percent), chemicals (11.1 percent) and primary metal manufacturing (8 percent) comprised the majority of South Africa’s total imports from the United States. In 2011, the United States imported $9.5 billion from South Africa, 40 percent of that being primary metals.
California exported over $300 million to South Africa in 2011, making it the state’s 41st largest trading partner and our number 1 trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. Computers and electronic equipment accounted for 26 percent of this total. (US Department of Commerce)
Foreign Direct Investment
In 2010, South Africa invested over $687 million into the United States economy. That same year, the United States invested close to $6.5 billion into South Africa. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Economist South Africa Country Report
Invest in South Africa
Investing in South Africa 2010
Projects in Progress 2009
South Africa Geared for Growth 2009
Information Provided by the South African Consulate General in Los Angeles
U.S. Southern Africa Customs Union (U.S. - SACU) / African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA)
On November 4, 2002, the U.S. Trade Representative notified Congress of President Bush’s decision to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with the member countries of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The five nations of the Southern Africa Customs Union are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. Total U.S.-SACU trade totaled $18.2 billion in 2011.
A U.S.-SACU Free Trade Agreement would have built on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of 2000. The California Chamber of Commerce supported the AGOA, which President Bill Clinton signed on May 19, 2000 as part of The Trade and Development Act of 2000.
On May 16, 2008 USTR submitted a comprehensive report to Congress on the results of U.S. trade and investment policy with respect to sub-Saharan Africa. The 2008 reports shows continued growth and diversification in US – Africa trade. Since its inception in 2000, AGOA has helped increase U.S. two-way trade with sub-Saharan Africa. In 2011, U.S. total exports to the AGOA nations totaled $20.3 billion, more than double the amount in 2001.
For more information, please see
U.S. - Southern African Customs Union Free Trade Agreement
U.S. Department of Commerce-AGOA News
Trade Mission to South Africa - 1995
The California Trade and Commerce Agency and the California Chamber of Commerce led a 20-member trade and investment mission to South Africa during the first week of October, 1995, to coincide with the Made in USA Trade Expo in Johannesburg, and with the opening of the California Office of Trade and Investment in Johannesburg.
The trip was a high-profile opportunity for California to introduce the state, its projects and way of doing business. Since the trade mission in 1995, U.S. exports to South Africa have nearly doubled.
For more articles and photos from the trade mission, please see the
October 20, 1995 Alert edition.
Recent Events
| South African Ambassador Highlights Country's Growth |
 (March 24, 2004) South Africa’s continual strong economic growth is due in large part to international investment in the last decade of democracy, Ambassador Barbara Masekala told a California Chamber luncheon audience yesterday.
Masekala noted that in the last 10 years she has seen great economic achievements in South Africa due to strong trade partnerships and investment of the international community. Full Article
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