China Drives Nearly a Third of South Africa’s Import Tax Revenue

Flags of South Africa and China are seen during the fireworks displays in the Cyryldene district of Johannesburg on February 8, 2025 during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations.(Photo by Christian Velcich / AFP)

South Africa’s latest tax data underscores just how central China has become to the country’s trade and fiscal base.

Figures released by the South African Revenue Service show that Chinese imports accounted for 30.9% of total import tax revenue, exceeding the combined contribution of Germany, the United States, India, Thailand, Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

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