CAPE TOWN: South Africa issued more defence export permits to sell materiel and services in 2015 although the overall value of approved sales dipped slightly from the prior year.
The 2015 report of the South African National Conventional Arms Control Committee reveals that 2,743 permits valued at ZAR2.7 billion (USD200 million) were issued last year in relation to 86 countries. This compares with 2,418 permits valued at ZAR2.9 billion (also relating to 86 countries), which were approved in 2014. The pool of South African exporters has increased, however. A total of 125 companies were approved as materiel exporters in 2015; up from 107 in 2014.