
South Africa's Rand Among Top Emerging-Market Performers Despite Global Challenges
South Africa's rand has emerged as one of the top five best-performing emerging-market currencies for the first time since 2016. Analysts attribute this achievement to strategic economic reforms and investment inflows, aspects detailed in a Bloomberg report published on December 31, 2024.
The rand showed remarkable strength despite a challenging economic environment that saw most developing nations' currencies faltering. Bloomberg's data positions it fifth among 24 major developing-nation currencies, trailing the Malaysian ringgit, Hong Kong dollar, Thai baht, and Peruvian sol.
South Africa's economic landscape in 2024 was characterized by robust investment activities and stable inflation. Notably, the nation recorded fixed-investment projects worth 794 billion rand ($42 billion), a significant leap from 193 billion rand in 2023. These investments were bolstered by progress in infrastructure and energy reforms, particularly public-private collaborations at major ports and improved operations by Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
Inflation remains contained at 2.9%, facilitating a strategic lowering of borrowing rates by the South African Reserve Bank by 50 basis points since September, with expectations of further cuts in early 2025. These measures are expected to support the rand's value, with Credit Agricole projecting an exchange rate of 16.40 rand per dollar by end of 2025, indicating a bullish outlook.
Additionally, the country's bond market is witnessing a revival, with the highest net foreign purchases since 2019 recorded in the third quarter. Non-residents bought 41.4 billion rand in local debt, enhancing the rand's appeal.
Gustavo Medeiros from Ashmore notes that logistical reforms and a recovery in tourism are key drivers for South Africa's currency strength. The outlook for 2025 remains optimistic, with a forecasted total return of 15% for investors, affirming South Africa's commitment to economic fundamentals and growth momentum.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
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11. COUNTRY PROFILES
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO- United States
- China
- Japan
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- France
- Brazil
- Italy
- Russian Federation
- India
- Canada
- Australia
- Republic of Korea
- Spain
- Mexico
- Indonesia
- Netherlands
- Turkey
- Saudi Arabia
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Nigeria
- Poland
- Belgium
- Argentina
- Norway
- Austria
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- Colombia
- Denmark
- South Africa
- Malaysia
- Israel
- Singapore
- Egypt
- Philippines
- Finland
- Chile
- Ireland
- Pakistan
- Greece
- Portugal
- Kazakhstan
- Algeria
- Czech Republic
- Qatar
- Peru
- Romania
- Vietnam
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2024
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2024
- Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Consumption, by Country, 2024
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Production, by Country, 2024
- Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)