Acrylic staple fiber imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported acrylic staple fiber worth $2.8 million (1.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 19% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $6.6 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.8M | 1.2K t |
| 2023 | $3.4M | 1.3K t |
| 2022 | $2.8M | 964 t |
| 2021 | $2.6M | 1.2K t |
| 2020 | $4.5M | 1.8K t |
| 2019 | $4.9M | 1.8K t |
| 2018 | $6.6M | 2.3K t |
| 2017 | $5.4M | 2.3K t |
Where South Africa imports acrylic staple fiber from
Turkey alone supplied 59% of it. Among the main suppliers, South Korea grew fastest (+95% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $1.6M | 59% |
| Portugal | $379K | 14% |
| Peru | $366K | 13% |
| South Korea | $140K | 5.1% |
| Germany | $89K | 3.2% |
| Italy | $68K | 2.5% |
| Thailand | $42K | 1.5% |
| China | $25K | 0.9% |
| United States | $10K | 0.4% |
| Spain | $1K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.34 per kg, close to the world average of $2.90.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Acrylic staple fiber exports from South Africa
Exports of acrylic staple fiber by South Africa reached $241 thousand in 2024 (55 tonnes). Mozambique alone took 85% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Namibia grew fastest (+642% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | $206K | 85% |
| Namibia | $29K | 12% |
| Zambia | $5K | 2.1% |
| Zimbabwe | $2K | 0.6% |
| Portugal | $0K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa acrylic staple fiber imports (HS 5503.30): 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 5503.30: Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, acrylic or modacrylic, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning.
Common questions
What is the value of acrylic staple fiber imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported acrylic staple fiber worth $2.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 31st of 129 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 19% on 2023.
Which countries supply acrylic staple fiber to South Africa?
Turkey was the largest supplier with 59% of the value ($1.6 million), followed by Portugal (14%) and Peru (13%). The top three together account for 86%, out of 15 supplier countries in total. The United States grew fastest among the top ten, up 268% on the year.
What is the average import price of acrylic staple fiber per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.34 per kg in 2024, 19% below the world average of $2.90 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of acrylic staple fiber to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.4 million in 2017 to $2.8 million in 2024, a fall of 49%. The peak was 2018 at $6.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $4.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also export acrylic staple fiber?
Yes. South Africa exported $241 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for acrylic staple fiber?
The HS code for acrylic staple fiber is subheading 5503.30. It sits in HS chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5503 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for South Africa. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World acrylic staple fiber trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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