Botox and bridges: South African exports of health and construction services

Figures & data

Figure 1: Growth in merchandise and service exports (by volume) Data source: South African Reserve Bank.

Figure 2: Relative trade balance by service category Data source: South African Reserve Bank.

Table 1: Gains from health-care exports

Mode of supply	Employment	Complementary exports	Foreign exchange	Knowledge and skills	Economies of scale
Cross-border trade	High	Low	High	Low	High
Consumption abroad	Medium	High	High	Low	Medium
Commercial presence	Low	High	Medium	Medium	Medium
Temporary movement of people	High	Low	Medium	High	Low
Emigration	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low

Table 2: Gains from health-care imports

Mode of supply	Knowledge and skills	Product		Capital and infrastructure
		Price	Quality
Cross-border trade	High	Medium	High	Medium
Consumption abroad	Low	Low	Low	Low
Commercial presence	High	Medium	High	High
Temporary movement of people	Medium	Medium	Medium	Low
Immigration	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium

Table 3: Turnover of South African contractors: R billion

Year	Turnover (SA)	Turnover (Ex-SA)	Ex-SA/ total
1999	8,6	2,4	22,0%
2000	9,6	3,0	23,8%
2001	13,1	3,5	20,4%
Data source: SAFCEC, 2002.

Table 4: Fee income of South African consulting engineers: R million (1995 constant prices)

Destination	1998	1999	2000	2001
Africa	192	292	336	323
Africa/Ex-SA	69,6%	80,4%	88,4%	79,8%
International	84	71	44	82
Ex-SA	276	363	380	405
SA	3,324	2,848	3,015	3,155
Ex-SA/total	7,7%	11,3%	11,2%	11,4%
Data source: SAACE, 2002.

Table 5: Gains from construction exports to Africa

Mode of supply	Job creation	Complementary exports	Foreign exchange	Knowledge and skills	Economies of scale
Cross-border trade	Low	Low	High	Low	Low
Consumption abroad	Low	Low	High	Low	Low
Commercial presence	Medium	High	Medium	Low	High
Temporary movement of people	Medium	Medium	High	Medium	Medium
Emigration	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low

Table 6: Gains from construction exports to Europe

Mode of supply	Employment	Complementary exports	Foreign exchange	Knowledge and skills	Economies of scale
Cross-border trade	Medium	Low	High	Low	Low
Consumption abroad	Low	Low	High	Medium	Medium
Commercial presence	Medium	Medium	Medium	High	Medium
Temporary movement of people	Low	Low	Medium	High	Medium
Emigration	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low

Table 7: Gains from construction imports

Mode of supply	Knowledge and skills	Product		Capital and infrastructure
		Price	Quality
Cross-border trade	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
Consumption abroad	Low	Low	Low	Low
Commercial presence	High	Low	High	High
Temporary movement of people*	High	Medium	High	Low
Immigration*	High	Medium	High	Medium
*For the purpose of this table, ‘temporary movement of people’ and ‘immigration’ refer exclusively to skilled workers. South Africa is unlikely to benefit from or consider lifting restrictions on low-skilled construction workers.