Statizoid

Merchandise Terms of Trade in South Africa

South Africa: Merchandise Terms of Trade was 31.68 1987 = 100 in 2009. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2009)
31.68 1987 = 100
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
48th
of 50 countries
All-time high
114.1 1987 = 100
in 1982
All-time low
0 1987 = 100
in 1965
Years of data
39
1965–2009

Merchandise Terms of Trade in South Africa, 1965–2009

02550751001251965198720091965: 0 1987 = 1001966: 0 1987 = 1001967: 0 1987 = 1001968: 0 1987 = 1001969: 0 1987 = 1001970: 0 1987 = 1001971: 0 1987 = 1001972: 0 1987 = 1001973: 0 1987 = 1001974: 0 1987 = 1001975: 0 1987 = 1001982: 114.1 1987 = 1001983: 112 1987 = 1001984: 108.1 1987 = 1001985: 105.8 1987 = 1001986: 102.4 1987 = 1001987: 102.9 1987 = 1001988: 103 1987 = 1001989: 103.3 1987 = 1001990: 101.5 1987 = 1001991: 108 1987 = 1001992: 106.8 1987 = 1001993: 104.4 1987 = 1001994: 101.8 1987 = 1001995: 91.3 1987 = 1001996: 92.4 1987 = 1001997: 93.6 1987 = 1001998: 96.6 1987 = 1001999: 98.6 1987 = 1002000: 100 1987 = 1002001: 103.6 1987 = 1002002: 105.3 1987 = 1002003: 105.1 1987 = 1002004: 113.8 1987 = 1002005: 33.9 1987 = 1002006: 32.8 1987 = 1002007: 31.4 1987 = 1002008: 31.4 1987 = 1002009: 31.7 1987 = 100

Source: World Bank country economists. Measured in 1987 = 100.

Analysis

In 2009, merchandise terms of trade in South Africa stood at 31.68 1987 = 100.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 67.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, merchandise terms of trade in South Africa peaked at 114.1 1987 = 100 in 1982 and was at its lowest, 0 1987 = 100, in 1965.

That places South Africa 48th out of 50 countries with data for 2009, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Merchandise Terms of Trade in South Africa, year by year

Year 1987 = 100 Change
1965 0 1987 = 100 —
1966 0 1987 = 100 —
1967 0 1987 = 100 —
1968 0 1987 = 100 —
1969 0 1987 = 100 —
1970 0 1987 = 100 —
1971 0 1987 = 100 —
1972 0 1987 = 100 —
1973 0 1987 = 100 —
1974 0 1987 = 100 —
1975 0 1987 = 100 —
1982 114.1 1987 = 100 —
1983 112 1987 = 100 -1.8%
1984 108.11 1987 = 100 -3.5%
1985 105.8 1987 = 100 -2.1%
1986 102.39 1987 = 100 -3.2%
1987 102.92 1987 = 100 +0.5%
1988 103.03 1987 = 100 +0.1%
1989 103.27 1987 = 100 +0.2%
1990 101.45 1987 = 100 -1.8%
1991 107.95 1987 = 100 +6.4%
1992 106.8 1987 = 100 -1.1%
1993 104.39 1987 = 100 -2.3%
1994 101.79 1987 = 100 -2.5%
1995 91.33 1987 = 100 -10.3%
1996 92.37 1987 = 100 +1.1%
1997 93.56 1987 = 100 +1.3%
1998 96.64 1987 = 100 +3.3%
1999 98.64 1987 = 100 +2.1%
2000 100 1987 = 100 +1.4%
2001 103.62 1987 = 100 +3.6%
2002 105.31 1987 = 100 +1.6%
2003 105.15 1987 = 100 -0.2%
2004 113.76 1987 = 100 +8.2%
2005 33.92 1987 = 100 -70.2%
2006 32.77 1987 = 100 -3.4%
2007 31.43 1987 = 100 -4.1%
2008 31.45 1987 = 100 +0.0%
2009 31.68 1987 = 100 +0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 0 1987 = 100 0 1987 = 100 0 1987 = 100 5
1970s 0 1987 = 100 0 1987 = 100 0 1987 = 100 6
1980s 106.45 1987 = 100 102.39 1987 = 100 114.1 1987 = 100 8
1990s 99.49 1987 = 100 91.33 1987 = 100 107.95 1987 = 100 10
2000s 68.91 1987 = 100 31.43 1987 = 100 113.76 1987 = 100 10

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 45 Madagascar 43.35 1987 = 100 compare
  2. 46 Botswana 42.96 1987 = 100 compare
  3. 47 Guinea-Bissau 32.29 1987 = 100 compare
  4. 49 Tanzania 30.51 1987 = 100 compare
  5. 50 Sudan 1.15 1987 = 100 compare

See the full ranking of 56 places →

More trade data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is merchandise terms of trade in South Africa?
Merchandise terms of trade in South Africa was 31.68 1987 = 100 in 2009, according to World Bank country economists.
What is the highest merchandise terms of trade recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 114.1 1987 = 100 in 1982.
What is the lowest merchandise terms of trade recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 0 1987 = 100 in 1965.
How does South Africa rank for merchandise terms of trade?
South Africa ranks 48th out of 50 countries with data for 2009.
Is merchandise terms of trade rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 67.9%. 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 Merchandise Terms of Trade (1987 = 100). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Merchandise Terms of Trade in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank country economists. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://trade.statizoid.com/stat/merchandise-terms-of-trade-1987-100/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise Terms of Trade (1987 = 100)
Unit
1987 = 100
Source
World Bank country economists
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
56 places, 1,550 data points, 1965–2011
Last refreshed

Net barter (merchandise) terms of trade (1987 = 100) are the ratio of the export price index to the corresponding import price index measured relative to the base year of 1987.