Looking at the latest Automotive Trade Manual of the Automotive Business Council (naamsa) the export of catalytic converters from South Africa, literally across the globe, caught the eye.
Locally manufactured catalytic converters are by far the single largest export component going from South Africa literally across the globe. It is also a useful method to offset a percentage of the import duties bringing vehicles and components into the country.
According to the Trade Manual, automotive component exports decreased by R3.4 billion, or 5.2%, to R63.4 billion in 2024 from R66.9 billion in 2023, mainly owing to the decline in catalytic converter exports.
However, catalytic converters remain the top automotive component exported from South Africa, comprising 30.4% of total automotive component exports, followed by engine parts, tyres and transmission shafts and cranks.
The global demand and supply patterns that have changed from the dominance of ICE vehicles to a mix that incorporates BEVs, plug-in hybrids and hybrids continue to affect the demand for catalytic converters.
A quick Internet search reveals that the main minerals used in catalytic converters are platinum, palladium and rhodium, tasked with cleaning the air from pollutants in exhaust fumes. The reason why South Africa is at the forefront of manufacturing and exporting converters is because of our healthy reserves of these three minerals.
Electric Vehicles do not use catalytic converters. The batteries used in EVs fortunately contain minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite. South Africa is the leading producer of manganese and the country has healthy deposits of the rest alongside countries like the DRC, Chile, Australia and China.
This means that South Africa could be a key player in the supply chain of the EV (and hybrid) power source alongside switching some of its ICE production over to manufacturing EVs with the growing demand for new-energy vehicles predicted in the coming years.
South Africa’s automotive clusters are strategically located to leverage infrastructure, skilled labour and proximity to major markets, and they play a vital role in its industrial strategy, leveraging regional strengths and global partnerships to maintain competitiveness.
South Africa provides the US with 25% of all its imports of nine critical minerals, including manganese and platinum. Therefore, AGOA (the African Growth and Opportunity Act), is a US trade law enacted in 2000 that provides duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries.
(Picture: Ford).
Catalytic converters:
Country |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total (R million) |
25 978.1 |
34 890.9 |
33 955.1 |
29 494.0 |
19 263.8 |
Germany |
30% |
36% |
32% |
33% |
42% |
Czech Republic |
26% |
22% |
20% |
22% |
25% |
Thailand |
- |
1% |
3% |
4% |
8% |
Turkey |
3% |
4% |
3% |
3% |
6% |
USA |
12% |
12% |
16% |
14% |
4% |
Hyundai Automotive South Africa officially opened Hyundai Midrand, a new dealership aimed at strengthening the brand’s presence in Gauteng and responding to growing customer demand in one of the province’s fastest-growing commercial corridors.
The compact SUV market in South Africa has gained a new contender with the arrival of the GAC Emzoom Nova. It joins the existing Emzoom Executive and Emzoom R‑Style models, broadening the range offered by Salvador Caetano South Africa, the official distributor of GAC Motor.
Chinese vehicle brand Changan has strengthened its South African retail presence with the opening of a new flagship dealership in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, as the company pushes ahead with plans to establish about 45 dealerships nationally during 2026.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
A South African dealership has been instructed to remove or amend an advertisement for a new Jetour T2 after the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled that the listing created the impression that a specific vehicle was immediately available for purchase when it was not.
If you were hoping to experience the roaring streets of the Isle of Man TT in 2026, you are already too late. This event, with practice sessions starting on 25 May 2026 and racing commencing on the 30th, requires at least six to twelve months of planning, along with a substantial budget.
Pinewood.AI has added two new embedded modules to its Business Intelligence Solution, giving dealers and OEMs greater insight into financial performance and the customer journey, it says.
