Food imports in South Africa

South Africa: Food imports was 4.95 billion constant US$ in 2004. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2004)
4.95 billion constant US$
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
1st
of 38 countries
All-time high
5.04 billion constant US$
in 2003
All-time low
446.39 million constant US$
in 1967
Years of data
40
1965–2004

Food imports in South Africa, 1965–2004

01.0B2.0B3.0B4.0B5.0B1965198420041965: 660.9M constant US$1966: 724.9M constant US$1967: 446.4M constant US$1968: 678.4M constant US$1969: 819.8M constant US$1970: 805.5M constant US$1971: 727.9M constant US$1972: 704.0M constant US$1973: 524.4M constant US$1974: 504.2M constant US$1975: 466.8M constant US$1976: 663.7M constant US$1977: 653.2M constant US$1978: 597.7M constant US$1979: 743.2M constant US$1980: 643.8M constant US$1981: 549.5M constant US$1982: 560.6M constant US$1983: 621.7M constant US$1984: 839.5M constant US$1985: 809.9M constant US$1986: 1.6B constant US$1987: 1.0B constant US$1988: 817.6M constant US$1989: 1.0B constant US$1990: 1.3B constant US$1991: 1.3B constant US$1992: 1.4B constant US$1993: 955.5M constant US$1994: 729.8M constant US$1995: 878.8M constant US$1996: 625.4M constant US$1997: 1.2B constant US$1998: 1.1B constant US$1999: 1.5B constant US$2000: 1.4B constant US$2001: 2.0B constant US$2002: 2.5B constant US$2003: 5.0B constant US$2004: 4.9B constant US$

Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in constant US$.

Analysis

In 2004, food imports in South Africa stood at 4.95 billion constant US$.

That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and up 577.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, food imports in South Africa peaked at 5.04 billion constant US$ in 2003 and was at its lowest, 446.39 million constant US$, in 1967.

That places South Africa 1st out of 38 countries with data for 2004, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Food imports in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Food imports (constant US$) in South Africa, 1965 to 2004.
Year constant US$ Change
1965 660.93 million constant US$
1966 724.92 million constant US$ +9.7%
1967 446.39 million constant US$ -38.4%
1968 678.38 million constant US$ +52.0%
1969 819.76 million constant US$ +20.8%
1970 805.49 million constant US$ -1.7%
1971 727.88 million constant US$ -9.6%
1972 703.99 million constant US$ -3.3%
1973 524.39 million constant US$ -25.5%
1974 504.24 million constant US$ -3.8%
1975 466.82 million constant US$ -7.4%
1976 663.73 million constant US$ +42.2%
1977 653.24 million constant US$ -1.6%
1978 597.66 million constant US$ -8.5%
1979 743.15 million constant US$ +24.3%
1980 643.76 million constant US$ -13.4%
1981 549.55 million constant US$ -14.6%
1982 560.65 million constant US$ +2.0%
1983 621.75 million constant US$ +10.9%
1984 839.46 million constant US$ +35.0%
1985 809.94 million constant US$ -3.5%
1986 1.57 billion constant US$ +93.7%
1987 1.02 billion constant US$ -35.2%
1988 817.61 million constant US$ -19.6%
1989 1.03 billion constant US$ +26.2%
1990 1.26 billion constant US$ +21.8%
1991 1.32 billion constant US$ +5.1%
1992 1.43 billion constant US$ +8.3%
1993 955.46 million constant US$ -33.3%
1994 729.77 million constant US$ -23.6%
1995 878.82 million constant US$ +20.4%
1996 625.41 million constant US$ -28.8%
1997 1.21 billion constant US$ +94.0%
1998 1.13 billion constant US$ -6.6%
1999 1.49 billion constant US$ +31.5%
2000 1.41 billion constant US$ -5.5%
2001 2.01 billion constant US$ +43.0%
2002 2.47 billion constant US$ +22.5%
2003 5.04 billion constant US$ +104.4%
2004 4.95 billion constant US$ -1.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 666.08 million constant US$ 446.39 million constant US$ 819.76 million constant US$ 5
1970s 639.06 million constant US$ 466.82 million constant US$ 805.49 million constant US$ 10
1980s 846.04 million constant US$ 549.55 million constant US$ 1.57 billion constant US$ 10
1990s 1.10 billion constant US$ 625.41 million constant US$ 1.49 billion constant US$ 10
2000s 3.17 billion constant US$ 1.41 billion constant US$ 5.04 billion constant US$ 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Algeria 1.95 billion constant US$ compare
  2. 3 Morocco 1.36 billion constant US$ compare
  3. 4 Ghana 1.11 billion constant US$ compare

See the full ranking of 44 places →

More trade data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is food imports in South Africa?
Food imports in South Africa was 4.95 billion constant US$ in 2004, according to World Bank country economists.
What is the highest food imports recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.04 billion constant US$ in 2003.
What is the lowest food imports recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 446.39 million constant US$ in 1967.
How does South Africa rank for food imports?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 38 countries with data for 2004.
Is food imports rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 577.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Food imports (constant US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Food imports in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/stat/food-imports-constant-us/south-africa/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://trade.statizoid.com/stat/food-imports-constant-us/south-africa/">Food imports in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Food imports (constant US$)
Unit
constant US$
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
44 places, 1,210 data points, 1965–2011
Last refreshed

Food imports, cif (includes freight and insurance costs) in 1987 constant US dollars.