KEY FACTS SOUTH-AFRICA
POPULATION
60.414.495 (2023)
LANGUAGE
Zulu, Xhosa
CAPITAL
Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein
REGION
Africa
CURRENCY
ZAR
South Africa has long been recognised as one of Africa’s strongest economies. Today, it is the third-largest economy, after Nigeria and Egypt. South Africa is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa, with the fifth-highest GDP per capita of all countries on the continent. This suggests that consumers have more disposable income. The country also has the highest ARPU (average revenue per user) for e-commerce sales of any African country.
Doing business in South Africa
- Do your research. Check with the recipient to ensure they are registered and hold the correct licences. When trading with South Africa, always ensure that the recipient has this information in advance.
- Decide whether to charge for returns. A number of retailers have introduced return charges. This change is driven by the need to cut costs, improve profitability and address the challenges caused by factors such as the pandemic, the rise in online shopping and excess stock.
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Be aware of return fraud. The return of counterfeit goods is becoming increasingly common. This poses a challenge for retailers, and some have taken steps to mitigate its impact, such as shortening the return period and introducing restocking fees.
Source: dhl.com
The economy in South Africa
- Credit cards and debit cards are widely used in South Africa for online purchases. With Instant EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer), customers can make bank transfers in real time directly from their online banking platform.
- South Africa has an area of 1,220,000 km²
- The country attracts around 8.5 million tourists every year, mainly from the United States and other African countries.
- The main sources of income are, in particular, mining, financial services, manufacturing and tourism.
- The largest regions in the country are: Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, North West and Kruger National Park.
DHL express and South-Africa
DHL Express in figures: find out how many vehicles and employees make up the global network.
Transit times
Destination
Amsterdam - Cape Town
Cape Town - Amsterdam
Document
3 days
3 days
Non Document
3 days
3 days
Commercial events and holidays in South-Africa
- Chinese New Year
- Africa Day
- Mandela Day
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Holiday shopping: The period from 16 December to early January is known for increased shopping activity. This can be an opportunity for businesses to attract customers with special offers and promotions.
Dutch public holiday arrangements: Holiday schedule
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