EU-27 trade with South Africa fell sharply in 2009

In 2009, South Africa was the EU-27’s 14th largest trade partner and the 2nd largest from Africa, close behind Algeria. EU-27 trade with South Africa changed dramatically from 2008 to 2009. Exports, which had fallen slightly in 2008, dropped by a further fifth in 2009; imports, which had risen steadily since 2003, fell by one third. Germany was the largest EU trading partner with South Africa. German exports to South Africa fell by 20% and their imports by 26% from 2008 to 2009, resulting in its total trade with South Africa falling by €2.6 billion. The UK, South Africa’s second largest EU trading partner, saw its total trade with South Africa fall by €3.0 billion, almost one third, in the same time.