Mexico and South Africa
Mexico and South Africa relaunched their political, economic and cooperation agenda through consultations in August 2023. Agreements under negotiation on tourism, veterinary matters and customs and preparation of the binational commission are specific mechanisms, separate from both countries’ regional and multilateral commitments.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, goods trade between Mexico and South Africa totalled 1,073.3 million current USD.
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Mexico to South Africa, at 83.1 million USD in 2025.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 1,073.34 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: Mexico to South Africa | 233.13 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: South Africa to Mexico | 840.2 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Mexico to South Africa | 0.035 % | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Export share: South Africa to Mexico | ||
| Investment stock: Mexico in South Africa | ||
| Investment stock: South Africa in Mexico |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter MEX. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Goods: Mexico to South Africa
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter MEX. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Goods: South Africa to Mexico
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter MEX. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF; no addition of mirror declarations. Both directions are identified from the same customs authority.
- Export share: Mexico to South Africa
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Exports to the partner / worldwide exports by the same reporter; same year and coverage.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Year-on-year inflation: different periods or frequencies; the two figures are not directly comparable.
| Indicator | Mexico | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 1.83 trillion USD2025 · WB | 427.18 billion USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP per capita | 13,889.23 USD2025 · WB | 6,597.71 USD2025 · World Bank |
| GDP growth | 0.56 %2025 · WB | 1.11 %2025 · World Bank |
| Policy interest rate | 6.5 %2026-09-24 · Banxico | |
| Inflation · annual average | 3.81 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 3.21 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.42 %Year-on-year · first fortnight of Sept. 2026 · INEGI | 4.4 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · Stats SAurban |
| Unemployment | 2.67 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 32.39 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -4.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -5.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 61.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 78.6 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -0.45 %2025 · WB | -0.42 %2025 · World Bank |
| Population | 131,946,9002025 · WB | 64,747,3192025 · World Bank |
| Area | 1,957,194 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 1,219,090 km²2023 · World Bank |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDMexico: 2025 · World BankSouth Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personMexico: 2025 · World BankSouth Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Mexico: 2025 · World BankSouth Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Mexico: 2026-09-24 · Overnight interbank rate target · Bank of Mexico
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Mexico: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World BankSouth Africa: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedMexico: 2026-09-Q1 · Headline CPI change relative to the same fortnight of the previous year (%) · INEGI · Published: 2026-09-24 · First fortnight of September relative to the same fortnight of 2025; not full-month September CPI or the 0.33% fortnightly change. The monthly September figure had not yet been published on the review date.South Africa: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change from the same month of the previous year · Stats SA · Urban headline CPI, not a geographically comprehensive national index or core inflation.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionMexico: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.South Africa: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Mexico: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.South Africa: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Mexico: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.South Africa: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPMexico: 2025 · World BankSouth Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleMexico: 2025 · World BankSouth Africa: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceMexico: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAOSouth Africa: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Mexico to South Africa
South Africa to Mexico
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and components | 202.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 37.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 30.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 13.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 4.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 0.524 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | Mexico to South Africa | South Africa to Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 821.4 | 198.9 | 622.5 |
| 2022 | 983 | 217.9 | 765.1 |
| 2023 | 1,268.8 | 251.7 | 1,017.1 |
| 2024 | 1,289.9 | 230.5 | 1,059.5 |
| 2025 | 1,073.3 | 233.1 | 840.2 |
Connections between people
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Mexico living in South Africa | ||
| Residents from South Africa living in Mexico | ||
| Study and training: Mexico in South Africa | ||
| Study and training: South Africa in Mexico | ||
| Academic stays: Mexico in South Africa | ||
| Academic stays: South Africa in Mexico | ||
| Travel: Mexico to South Africa | ||
| Travel: South Africa to Mexico |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
Bilateral context
Relations were established on 27 October 1993 during dismantling of apartheid. Institutional consultations began in 2001, with deputy-ministerial sessions in 2007 and 2019 before the third in August 2023 in Mexico City. [1]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Mexico is 1,832.6 billion USD (2025), compared with 427.2 for South Africa (2025). The reference populations are 131.95 and 64.75 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Mexico was 4.29 times that of South Africa in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Carmen Moreno and Alvin Botes agreed to prepare another ministerial binational commission meeting, preceded by subcommittee work reviewing priorities and ongoing activities. They also proposed concluding tourism, veterinary and customs instruments still under negotiation. The joint statement records affinity on nuclear disarmament, peaceful dispute settlement, development and equality. The anniversary and relaunch are political milestones, not evidence that all outstanding agreements had entered into force. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Mexico and South Africa) totalled 1,073.3 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 233.1 million; those in the opposite direction, 840.2 million. The difference between the two flows was 607.1 million, in favour of South Africa. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from Mexico to the partner represented 0.035% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 821.4 million USD in 2021 and 1,073.3 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +30.7 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2024, at 1,289.9 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [3]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Mexico to South Africa, at 83.1 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from South Africa to Mexico, at 202.5 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [4]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — MEX-ZAF
www.gob.mx · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-09-17
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- SP.POP.TOTL; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade
2026-10-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-08 · Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record.