After EU27 trade in goods with South Africa dropped in 2009, both exports and imports showed a renewed growth in 2010. The value of EU27 exports to South Africa increased by one third and reached a peak of 21.4 billion euro in 2010, while imports rose by 20% to 17.9 bn, still not reaching the level of imports recorded in 2006.

The first half of 2011 showed a sustained growth in EU27 trade with South Africa, compared with the first half of 2010. Exports rose from 10.1 bn in the first six month of 2010 to 12.3 bn in the first half of 2011, and imports from 8.8 bn to 9.1 bn. As a result, the EU27 surplus in trade of goods with South Africa increased from 1.2 bn in the first half of 2010 to 3.2 bn in the same period of 2011. South Africa accounted for around 1.4% of the EU27's external trade in goods, and was the EU27's fifteenth most important trading partner in the first six months of 2011.

On the occasion of the fourth European Union - South Africa summit, which will take place on 15 September in South Africa, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, issues data on trade and investments between South Africa and the EU.

Germany and the United Kingdom account for almost half of EU27 trade with South Africa

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany (4.1 bn euro or 34% of EU27 exports) was by far the largest exporter to South Africa in the first half of 2011, followed by the United Kingdom (1.8 bn or 15%) and France (1.1 bn or 9%). Germany (2.5 bn or 28% of EU27 imports) was also the largest importer, followed by the United Kingdom (1.5 bn or 16%). The highest surpluses in trade with South Africa in the first six months of 2011 were observed in Germany (+1.6 bn) and France (+0.7 bn), and the largest deficits in Italy (-0.4 bn) and the Netherlands (-0.3 bn).

Surplus of 1.6 bn euro for trade in services in 2009

Both exports and imports of services between the EU27 and South Africa showed a decline from 2007 to 2009. In 2009, the EU27 exported 5.4 bn euro of services to South Africa, while imports amounted to 3.9 bn. As a result, the EU27 recorded a surplus of 1.6 bn in trade in services with South Africa in 2009, compared with 1.8 bn in 2008 and 1.9 bn in 2007. South Africa accounted for 1% of extra-EU27 trade in services in 2009.

Growth of EU27 FDI in South Africa in 2009

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows between the EU27 and South Africa followed different patterns. While EU27 foreign direct investments in South Africa increased to 5.9 bn euro in 2009, after a drop in 2008, South African direct investment into the EU27 fell to 1.0 bn in 2009, after a growth in 2008.