Merchandise export volume index in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise export volume index was 164.99 in 2009. ▲ Rising
Merchandise export volume index in South Africa, 1965–2009
Source: World Bank country economists.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise export volume index in South Africa is 164.99, measured in 2009. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 79.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise export volume index in South Africa peaked at 164.99 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 41, in 1978.
That places South Africa 33rd out of 45 countries with data for 2009, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Merchandise export volume index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 48.49 | — |
| 1966 | 49.98 | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 51.48 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 48.81 | -5.2% |
| 1969 | 46.43 | -4.9% |
| 1970 | 45.89 | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 47.86 | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 50.06 | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 51.72 | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 52.67 | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 44.3 | -15.9% |
| 1976 | 42.7 | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 41.6 | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 41 | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 42.1 | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 46.5 | +10.5% |
| 1981 | 44.7 | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 46.8 | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 50.6 | +8.1% |
| 1984 | 51.6 | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 51.4 | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 50.7 | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 53.6 | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 59.2 | +10.4% |
| 1989 | 60.6 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 67.3 | +11.1% |
| 1991 | 72.1 | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 75.9 | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 78.3 | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 79.4 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 86 | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 88.1 | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 89.4 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 89.6 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 92.1 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 100 | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 107.5 | +7.5% |
| 2002 | 113.8 | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 116.5 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 93.7 | -19.6% |
| 2005 | 152.43 | +62.7% |
| 2006 | 155.47 | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 158.58 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 161.75 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 164.99 | +2.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 164.99 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 176.87, 93% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 164.99 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 250.63, 66% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise export volume index in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +62.7% | 93.7 | 152.43 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 49.04 | 46.43 | 51.48 | 5 |
| 1970s | 45.99 | 41 | 52.67 | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.57 | 44.7 | 60.6 | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.82 | 67.3 | 92.1 | 10 |
| 2000s | 132.47 | 93.7 | 164.99 | 10 |
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)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, Percent of GDP 1.03 (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 64.23 units per person (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 0.0102 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Exports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), gaps 1.75 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise export volume index in South Africa?
- Merchandise export volume index in South Africa was 164.99 in 2009, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest merchandise export volume index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 164.99 in 2009.
- What is the lowest merchandise export volume index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 41 in 1978.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise export volume index?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 45 countries with data for 2009.
- Is merchandise export volume index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Merchandise export volume index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Merchandise exports volume index with 1987=100.