South Africa maintained a trade surplus in the third quarter of 2023, at R41 billion, up from R10 billion in the second quarter of 2023, but lower than the R53 billion from the third quarter of 2022. Exports declined by R41 billion to R529 billion in the year to the…

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. For each industry covered, working papers will be published on basic economic trends, including value added, employment, investment and market structure; trade by major product and country; impact on the environment as…

Business Day - 27 February 2024 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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Business Day - 11 March 2024 by Denene Erasmus

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Business Day - 12 March 2024 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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Communications Intern Siyamthanda Nyulu studied a Bachelor of Journalism and Media Studies with Honours in Multimedia Studies. She furthered her studies by completing a Master's in journalism and media studies. She studied all her qualifications at Rhodes University. Her Master’s thesis analysed how Daily Maverick framed the VBS Mutual Bank heist in the years 2018-2020. She is passionate about creating digital content that will educate people about issues surrounding the economy, climate change and education. 

South Africa’s merchandise exports experienced a 9.2% year-on-year decline from R570 billion in Q3 2022 to R517 billion (constant rand terms) in Q3 2023. Imports also saw a downturn in the third quarter of 2023, falling by 5.5% year-on-year, amounting to R478 billion. Despite the 9.2% decline in exports, South…

The Import Localisation and Supply Chain Disruption study is a quarterly report that seeks to identify goods from the list of imports identified in the Import Tracker report that South Africa could possibly viably manufacture. Each quarter focuses on five manufactured items from the list of imports in the corresponding quarter's Import Tracker report. The five products in this report are: Product 1: Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for transport of 10 or more persons   Product 2: Electrical lighting or visual signalling equipment for motor vehicles   Product 3: Fungicides (excluding goods of subheading 3808.50): Other  …

The TIPS Development Dialogue on green hydrogen and industrial policy was held on 13 March. Information about the dialogue and speakers, as well as a video recording and copies of the presentations are available here.  

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. For each industry covered, working papers will be published on basic economic trends, including value added, employment, investment and market structure; trade by major product and country; impact on the environment as…

Business Day - 9 April 2024 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

Read online at Business Day

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. For each industry covered, working papers will be published on basic economic trends, including value added, employment, investment and market structure; trade by major product and country; impact on the environment as…

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. For each industry covered, working papers will be published on basic economic trends, including value added, employment, investment and market structure; trade by major product and country; impact on the environment as…

eNCA 11 April 2024 - Interview with Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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PRESENTATIONS Nishal Robb (TIPS) – SA economic trends pre- and post-COVID-19: Implications for industrial policy Itumeleng Mokoena (DNA Economics) – Trends in the global economy since 2008 and Implications for South Africa's industrial policy Nokwanda Maseko (TIPS) – Post-covid industrial policy in the context of the climate crisis Neva Makgetla (TIPS) – The…

The South African start-up sector has experienced significant growth over the past decade. However, the growth of start-ups in South Africa is still far from its potential. Growth elsewhere in Africa has, in recent years, been far more rapid. Once the leading country in Africa for investment in start-ups, South Africa has…

The Tracker added 23 projects in the fourth quarter of 2023 with a pledged investment value amounting to R478.7 billion recorded from 12 projects. The other 11 projects have not yet reported their respective project values. Monitoring updated 28 pre-existing projects to the Tracker this quarter.

The TIPS Development Dialogue: Industrial policy after the COVID-19 downturn was held on Thursday 25 April 2024. For more information about the programme and speakers, and copies of the video and presentations, go to Development Dialogue.

This policy brief’s main intention is to create awareness for the affected stakeholders of the UK CBAM. The brief also touches on the issues faced by firms under the EU CBAM, and shows the similarities of the two mechanisms. After initial consultation in March 2023, the United Kingdom in December 2023 announced that…

The demand for electricity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is anticipated to double from 280 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2010 to 570 TWh by 2030. By extension, the region will require significant amounts of electrical equipment, which includes items that are used for generation, conversion, transmission, supply,…