Artificial staple fabric, printed imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of artificial staple fabric, printed by South Africa reached $6.3 million in 2024 (1.1 thousand tonnes). That is 3% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $22.3 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 | $6.3M | 1.1K t |
| 2023 | $6.1M | 932 t |
| 2022 | $8.4M | 1.2K t |
| 2021 | $9.0M | 1.7K t |
| 2020 | $8.5M | 1.4K t |
| 2019 | $22.3M | 912 t |
| 2018 | $15.3M | 687 t |
| 2017 | $3.4M | 2.1K t |
Where South Africa imports artificial staple fabric, printed from
China alone supplied 95% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $6.0M | 95% |
| Spain | $193K | 3% |
| Thailand | $90K | 1.4% |
| India | $31K | 0.5% |
| United States | $19K | 0.3% |
| Bulgaria | $4K | 0.1% |
| Netherlands | $2K | 0% |
| Germany | $1K | 0% |
| Italy | $1K | 0% |
| Portugal | $0K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.69 per kg, close to the world average of $6.49.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Artificial staple fabric, printed exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported artificial staple fabric, printed worth $876 thousand (107 tonnes). Eswatini alone took 94% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Eswatini grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | $826K | 94% |
| Zimbabwe | $47K | 5.4% |
| Zambia | $2K | 0.3% |
| Namibia | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa artificial staple fabric, printed imports (HS 5516.14): 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 5516.14: Fabrics, woven: printed, containing 85% or more by weight of artificial staple fibres.
Common questions
What is the value of artificial staple fabric, printed imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported artificial staple fabric, printed worth $6.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 41st of 163 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 3% on 2023.
Which countries supply artificial staple fabric, printed to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 95% of the value ($6.0 million), followed by Spain (3%) and Thailand (1%). The top three together account for 99%, out of 13 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 676% on the year.
What is the average import price of artificial staple fabric, printed per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.69 per kg in 2024, 12% below the world average of $6.49 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of artificial staple fabric, printed to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $3.4 million in 2017 to $6.3 million in 2024, an increase of 87%. The peak was 2019 at $22.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $9.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export artificial staple fabric, printed?
Yes. South Africa exported $876 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Zambia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $5.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for artificial staple fabric, printed?
The HS code for artificial staple fabric, printed is subheading 5516.14. It sits in HS chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5516 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 artificial staple fabric, printed trade: top importers and exporters
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