South Africa in BRICS: A Bilateral Trade Analysis

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the trade dynamics between South Africa and its BRICS partners (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) from 1995 to 2011. It examines trade value, intensity, complementarity, and structure, noting a significant shift in South Africa's trade balance and a growing reliance on primary commodity exports to meet the demand of emerging economies, particularly China.

• South Africa's trade with BRICS partners became significantly more dynamic starting around 2000, with China emerging as the most influential partner for both imports and exports. China overtook India as the primary destination for South African exports in 2003 and accounted for 71% of South Africa's exports to the BRICS group in 2011.
• In 2010, the value of South Africa's exports to BRICS countries surpassed its exports to the European Union (EU) for the first time. This shift is attributed to high growth and demand for natural resources in BRICS economies and a slow economic recovery in the EU, rather than a political diversion of trade.
• South Africa's trade balance with most BRICS countries shifted from a deficit to a surplus around 2010, coinciding with its formal inclusion in the BRICS grouping. This transition was driven by a steep rise in the prices of primary commodities—such as metal, iron ore, and coal—fueled by demand from emerging markets, with China contributing approximately 60% of that demand increase.
• Trade intensity is highest with India and China, while it remains low for Brazil and Russia. Low export intensity to Brazil is likely due to a 35% tariff on South African automobiles, while low intensity with Russia may result from ineffective Russian trade policy and a lack of prioritized trade missions.
• The structure of trade is characterized by a divide between BRICS and the EU: trade with the EU is intra-industry, supporting high-skilled manufacturing and services, whereas trade with BRICS is primarily inter-industry. South African exports to BRICS are dominated by primary products, specifically inedible crude materials (34.5%), commodities and transactions (25.5%), and mineral fuels (17.6%) as of 2011.
• South Africa's imports from BRICS are dominated by sophisticated goods, specifically machinery and transport equipment (40.7% in 2011), followed by miscellaneous manufactured articles (18.1%) and manufactured goods (16.2%).

APA

Onyekwena, C., Taiwo, O., & Uneze, E. (2014). South Africa in BRICS: A Bilateral Trade Analysis. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Occasional-Paper-181.pdf

Chicago

Onyekwena, Chukwuka, Olumide Taiwo, and Eberechukwu Uneze. South Africa in BRICS: A Bilateral Trade Analysis. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2014. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Occasional-Paper-181.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Onyekwena |first1=Chukwuka |last2=Taiwo |first2=Olumide |last3=Uneze |first3=Eberechukwu |title=South Africa in BRICS: A Bilateral Trade Analysis |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=April 2014 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Occasional-Paper-181.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{onyekwena2014south, author = {Onyekwena, Chukwuka and Taiwo, Olumide and Uneze, Eberechukwu}, title = {{South Africa in BRICS: A Bilateral Trade Analysis}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2014}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Occasional-Paper-181.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }