The European Union is South Africa’s most important trading partner, accounting for approximately 35% of imports and 32% of exports (2006 data). The main products imported by the EU from South Africa include machinery and mechanical appliances, mineral products, precious and semi-precious stones and metals, followed by base metals and articles of base metals. The main products exported by the EU to South Africa include machinery and mechanical appliances, followed by vehicles and transport equipment and products from chemical and allied industries.

A detailed profile on EU-SA trade  {90 kb}  provides a more in-depth analysis of the actual structure of trade:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_113447.pdf

The European Commission's Market Access Database and Export Helpdesk Database provide yearly trade flow data for specific products. Both databases are free, on-line, interactive services aimed at helping business communities in Europe and in developing countries.

The Market Access Database has been specifically designed to address the needs of EU-based exporters and importers. Apart from trade data, it provides information on sector and trade barriers in third countries; applied tariffs; import procedures and documents required for the import of particular products. It also contains an SPS database designed to facilitate the identification of Sanitary and Phytosanitary export problems with any non-EU country.

The Export Helpdesk Database has been designed to facilitate market access to the EU for developing countries. It provides information about import requirements, certifications, internal taxes applying in each Member State for particular products; VAT and excise taxes at EU level; EU preferential trade regimes available to developing countries (tariffs, customs requirements, rules of origin); EU Member States' customs authorities and details of organisations involved in promoting imports from developing countries.