South Africa: Export volume index (2015 = 100)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, South Africa's export volume index (2015 = 100) fell 7.7 on 2023 (from 110.2 to 102.5).

Across the 18 yearly changes before that (2006 to 2023), the average change was +1.89 and a typical year strayed about 7.16 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 14.7 in 2010 and the biggest yearly fall was 19.6 in 2009. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.86 a year. A straight line explains 32% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, South Africa had the 127th highest value of the 203 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to South Africa in the 2024 ranking

• Syrian Arab Republic — 124th of 203: 104.2
• Switzerland — 125th of 203: 103.8
• Macao SAR, China — 126th of 203: 103
• Malta — 128th of 203: 102.2
• Honduras — 129th of 203: 102
• Fiji — 130th of 203: 101.6

What this measures

Export volume indexes are derived from UNCTAD's volume index series and are the ratio of the export value indexes to the corresponding unit value indexes. Unit value indexes are based on data reported by countries that demonstrate consistency under UNCTAD quality controls, supplemented by UNCTAD's estimates using the previous year's trade values at the Standard International Trade Classification three-digit level as weights.

All 20 values

Export volume index (2015 = 100) in nearby economies

• Angola — 74.2 (2024)
• Benin — 161.9 (2024)
• Botswana — 79 (2024)
• Burkina Faso — 139.3 (2024)
• Burundi — 87.6 (2024)
• Cabo Verde — 99.5 (2024)
• Cameroon — 96.7 (2024)
• Central African Republic — 115.1 (2024)
• Chad — 105.3 (2024)
• Comoros — 184 (2024)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 193.8 (2024)

More trade data for South Africa

• Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, manufactured products (%) — 7.7% (2022)
• Tariff rate, most favored nation, simple mean, manufactured products (%) — 8.18% (2022)
• Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, manufactured products (%) — 5.31% (2022)
• Tariff rate, most favored nation, weighted mean, manufactured products (%) — 7.06% (2022)
• Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, all products (%) — 7.31% (2022)
• Tariff rate, most favored nation, simple mean, all products (%) — 7.64% (2022)
• Tariff rate, applied, weighted mean, all products (%) — 4.66% (2022)
• Tariff rate, most favored nation, weighted mean, all products (%)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is South Africa's export volume index (2015 = 100)?

102.5 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2005?

It is up 34.51% from 76.2 in 2005 (1.57% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 110.2 in 2023 and the lowest 71.1 in 2009.

How does South Africa rank?

127th highest of 203 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in export volume index (2015 = 100) unusual for South Africa?

In 2024, South Africa's export volume index (2015 = 100) fell 7.7 on 2023 (from 110.2 to 102.5). Across the 18 yearly changes before that (2006 to 2023), the average change was +1.89 and a typical year strayed about 7.16 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator TX.QTY.MRCH.XD.WD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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