The value of EU27 exports to South Africa increased steadily from 11.8 billion euro in 2000 to a peak at 20.5 bn in 2007, and then fell to 16.0 bn in 2009. Imports rose from 14.7 bn in 2000 to a peak of 22.4 bn in 2008, and then fell to 14.9 bn in 2009.

After the significant slowdown in EU27 trade with South Africa in 2009, the data for the first half of 2010 show renewed growth. EU27 exports to South Africa increased from 7.4 bn euro in the first half of 2009 to 10.1 bn in the first half of 2010, and imports rose from 7.6 bn to 8.8 bn. As a result, the EU27 balance in trade of goods with South Africa moved from a small deficit of 0.2 bn in the first half of 2009 to a surplus of 1.3 bn in the first half of 2010. South Africa accounted for around 1.4% of the EU27's external trade in goods, and was the EU27's thirteenth most important trading partner in the first six months of 2010.

On the occasion of the third European Union - South Africa summit, which will take place on 28 September in Brussels, 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 half of EU27 trade with South Africa

Among the EU27 Member States, Germany (3.7 bn euro or 37% of EU27 exports) was by far the largest exporter to South Africa in the first half of 2010, followed by the United Kingdom (1.4 bn or 13%). The United Kingdom (2.4 bn or 27%) was the largest importer, followed by Germany (2.2 bn or 25%). The highest surpluses in trade with South Africa in the first half of 2010 were observed in Germany (+1.6 bn) and Sweden (+0.5 bn), and the largest deficits in the United Kingdom (-1.1 bn) and Italy (-0.5 bn).

Almost half of EU27 exports to South Africa in the first half of 2010 were machinery and vehicles1, while other manufactured goods accounted for 40% of imports. At the detailed level, the main EU27 exports to South Africa included medicine and motor vehicles & parts, while the main imports included diamonds, coal, platinum and gold.

EU27 surplus of 2 bn in trade in services in 2008

In 2008, the EU27 exported 6.2 bn euro of services to South Africa, while imports amounted to 4.3 bn. As a result, the EU27 recorded a surplus of 1.8 bn in trade in services with South Africa in 2008, compared with 1.8 bn in 2007 and 1.3 bn in 2006. South Africa accounted for 1.1% of extra-EU27 trade in services in 2008.

EU27 net investor in South Africa

EU27 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in South Africa remained stable at about 5.1 bn euro in 2006 and 2007, then fell to 2.7 bn in 2008, while South African direct investment into the EU27 increased from 0.9 bn in 2006 to 1.8 bn in 2007, then fell to 0.5 bn in 2008.