Aluminum oxide (corundum) imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $5.4 million of aluminum oxide (corundum) in 2024 (5.6 thousand tonnes). Value rose 38% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $6.8 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 | $5.4M | 5.6K t |
| 2023 | $3.9M | 3.8K t |
| 2022 | $5.3M | 5.3K t |
| 2021 | $5.0M | 5.6K t |
| 2020 | $3.6M | 3.7K t |
| 2019 | $5.6M | 5.8K t |
| 2018 | $6.8M | 7.8K t |
| 2017 | $6.4M | 9.4K t |
Where South Africa imports aluminum oxide (corundum) from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 65% of the value. Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.5M | 65% |
| India | $653K | 12% |
| Bahrain | $643K | 12% |
| Austria | $334K | 6.2% |
| Italy | $127K | 2.4% |
| United Kingdom | $47K | 0.9% |
| Germany | $26K | 0.5% |
| Hong Kong | $17K | 0.3% |
| Slovenia | $3K | 0.1% |
| Brazil | $2K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.96 per kg, close to the world average of $1.06.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa aluminum oxide (corundum) imports (HS 2818.10): 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 2818.10: Aluminium oxide: artificial corundum.
Common questions
What is the value of aluminum oxide (corundum) imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported aluminum oxide (corundum) worth $5.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 5.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 31st of 149 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 38% on 2023.
Which countries supply aluminum oxide (corundum) to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 65% of the value ($3.5 million), followed by India (12%) and Bahrain (12%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 14 supplier countries in total. Bahrain grew fastest among the top ten, up 733% on the year.
What is the average import price of aluminum oxide (corundum) per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.96 per kg in 2024, 9% below the world average of $1.06 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of aluminum oxide (corundum) to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $6.4 million in 2017 to $5.4 million in 2024, a fall of 16%. The peak was 2018 at $6.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $5.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for aluminum oxide (corundum)?
The HS code for aluminum oxide (corundum) is subheading 2818.10. It sits in HS chapter 28 (inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2818 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For South Africa, 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 aluminum oxide (corundum) trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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