Food imports in South Africa
South Africa: Food imports was 3.02 billion current US$ in 2004. β Volatile
Food imports in South Africa, 1965β2004
Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in South Africa is 3.02 billion current US$, measured in 2004. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and up 127.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in South Africa peaked at 3.02 billion current US$ in 2004 and was at its lowest, 123.45 million current US$, in 1967.
South Africa ranks 5th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 180.25 million current US$ | 123.45 million current US$ | 272.94 million current US$ | 5 |
| 1970s | 462.17 million current US$ | 252.29 million current US$ | 724.34 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 669.15 million current US$ | 476.27 million current US$ | 1.03 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.47 billion current US$ | 1.29 billion current US$ | 1.98 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.99 billion current US$ | 1.29 billion current US$ | 3.02 billion current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More trade data for South Africa
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 109.35 (2025)
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 100.81 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 99.79 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 95.89 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 98.98 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 77.42 (2025)
- Extensive Margin, Theil index 0.2093 (2014)
- Export Diversification, Theil index 2.59 (2014)
- Intensive Margin, Theil index 2.38 (2014)
- Total current account debit/expenditure, Debit/Expenditure 145.58 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in South Africa?
- Food imports in South Africa was 3.02 billion current US$ in 2004, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.02 billion current US$ in 2004.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 123.45 million current US$ in 1967.
- How does South Africa rank for food imports?
- South Africa ranks 5th out of 47 countries with data for 2004.
- Is food imports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 127.3%. 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 (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Food imports, cif (includes freight and insurance costs) in current US dollars.