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Since the end of apartheid, foreign trade in South Africa has increased, following the lifting of several sanctions and boycotts which were imposed as a means of ending apartheid.
South Africa is the second largest producer of gold in Africa[1] and is the world's largest producer of chrome, manganese, platinum, vanadium and vermiculite, the second largest producer of ilmenite, palladium, rutile and zirconium.[2] It is also the world's third largest coal exporter.[3] Although, mining only accounts for 3% of the GDP, down from around 14% in the 1980s.[4] South Africa also has a large agricultural sector and is a net exporter of farming products.
Principal international trading partners of South Africa—besides other African countries—include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain.[5] Chief exports include corn, diamonds, fruits, gold, metals and minerals, sugar,coal, and wool. Machinery and transportation equipment make up more than one-third of the value of the country's imports. Other imports include chemicals, manufactured goods, and lots more, mainly found in other hot country mainly Spanish countries.
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Main article: Disinvestment from South Africa |
During apartheid, South Africa's foreign trade and investment were affected by sanctions and boycotts by other countries ideologically opposed to apartheid. In 1970, the United Nations Security Council, adopted resolution 282 imposing a voluntary arms embargo upon South Africa, which was extended by subsequent resolutions 418 and 591, declaring the embargo mandatory. In 1978, South Africa was prohibited loans from the Export-Import Bank of the United States which was later followed by a prohibition on IMF loans in 1983. An oil embargo was imposed by OPEC in 1983 which was strengthened by Iran in 1979.
South Africa's main export trading partners are the European Union, the United States, Japan. China's share in exports is increasing, and has risen from 1.7% in 1994 to nearly 11% in 2007.[citation needed]
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| Country | Value (billion of Rands) | Value in US$ (billion of Dollars) | Percentage of total exports |
|---|---|---|---|
 China |
R 199.97 |
$ 13.31[8]
|
11.79%
|
 United States |
R 193.00 |
$ 12.87
|
11.37%
|
 Germany |
R 155.05 |
$ 10.34
|
9.14%
|
 Japan |
R 121.45 |
$ 8.09
|
7.16%
|
 United Kingdom |
R 120.85 |
$ 8.06
|
7.12%
|
 Botswana
|
R 64.47
|
$ 4.29
|
3.8%
|
 Mozambique
|
R 63.92
|
$ 4.26
|
3.77%
|
 India
|
R 61.38
|
$ 4.09
|
3.62%
|
 Netherlands
|
R 61.31
|
$ 4.09
|
3.61%
|
 Belgium
|
R 52.31
|
$ 3.49
|
3.08%
|
| Country | Value (billions of Rands) | Value in US$ (billions of Dollars) | Percentage of total imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| China |
R 283.97 |
$ 18.93[8]
|
11.79%
|
| Germany |
R 111.46 |
$ 7.43
|
11.37%
|
| United States |
R 96.86 |
$ 6.46
|
9.14%
|
| India |
R 78.92 |
$ 5.26
|
7.16%
|
 Saudi Arabia |
R 60.61 |
$ 4.04
|
7.12%
|
 Thailand
|
R 43.92
|
$ 2.93
|
3.8%
|
| Japan
|
R 38.44
|
$ 2.56
|
3.77%
|
 Italy
|
R 38.08
|
$ 2.54
|
3.62%
|
 Nigeria
|
R 33.09
|
$ 2.21
|
3.61%
|
 France
|
R 29.03
|
$ 1.93
|
3.08%
|
Almost 90% of South Africa's exports to the rest of Africa go to the SADC economies. In 2018, South Africa exported and imported goods to and from the rest of Africa to the value of US$25 billion and US$11.5 billion, respectively. Intra-Africa exports account for 26% of South Africa's total exports and imports for 12% of total imports for 2018. South African exports to the rest of Africa are predominantly of value-added goods. In terms of South Africa's total trade (exports + imports) with the rest of the continent; Namibia (13%), Botswana (12%), Nigeria (12%) and Mozambique (12%) are South Africa's main African trading partners.[9]
The following includes a list of existing trade agreements signed by South Africa:[10]
Regional agreements
European Union: Trade Agreement between the European Union (EU) and South Africa
EFTA:Trade Agreement between Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states
SADC: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Agreement
AU: African Continental Free Trade Area
Mercosur: within the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)Multilateral agreements
Bilateral agreements
Malawi: Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Malawi[11]
Norway: Generalized System of Preferences Norway[11]
Turkey: Generalized System of Preferences Turkey[11] United Kingdom: through the SACU and Mozambique-UK Economic Partnership Agreement (SACUM-UK EPA)[12] United States: The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)[11] United States: US-Southern African Customs Union Free Trade Agreement: (US-SAUC; incl. 
South Africa, Botswana, 
Lesotho, 
Eswatini, and 
Namibia; on hold since 2006 due to US demands on intellectual property rights, government procurement rights and investment)[11]
Zimbabwe: Trade Agreement between Zimbabwe and South Africa[11]
