Industrial bar soap imports in the DR Congo: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of industrial bar soap by the DR Congo reached $7.7 million in 2024 (4.8 thousand tonnes). That is 9% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $16.0 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7.7M | 4.8K t |
| 2023 | $7.1M | 5.4K t |
| 2022 | $12.7M | 10.9K t |
| 2021 | $13.0M | 14.9K t |
| 2020 | $9.5M | 15.8K t |
| 2019 | $16.0M | 22.6K t |
| 2018 | $12.0M | 18.2K t |
| 2017 | $14.1M | 20.7K t |
Where the DR Congo imports industrial bar soap from
One supplier dominates: South Africa accounted for 61% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Uganda grew fastest (+386% on the year before).
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.60 per kg, close to the world average of $1.70.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in the DR Congo?
The shipment records behind DR Congo industrial bar soap imports (HS 3401.19): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 3401.19: Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, not for toilet use.
Common questions
What is the value of industrial bar soap imported by the DR Congo?
The DR Congo imported industrial bar soap worth $7.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 66th of 221 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 9% on 2023.
Which countries supply industrial bar soap to the DR Congo?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 61% of the value ($4.7 million), followed by Angola (10%) and Tanzania (8%). The top three together account for 79%, out of 14 supplier countries in total. Uganda grew fastest among the top ten, up 386% on the year.
What is the average import price of industrial bar soap per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.60 per kg in 2024, 6% below the world average of $1.70 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of industrial bar soap to the DR Congo changed since 2017?
Imports went from $14.1 million in 2017 to $7.7 million in 2024, a fall of 45%. The peak was 2019 at $16.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $11.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for industrial bar soap?
The HS code for industrial bar soap is subheading 3401.19. It sits in HS chapter 34 (soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3401 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For the DR Congo, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World industrial bar soap trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the DR Congo
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