Base stations imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of base stations by South Africa reached $11.1 million in 2024 (95 tonnes). That is 69% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 14% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $58.8 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 | $11.1M | 95 t |
| 2023 | $35.9M | 159 t |
| 2022 | $38.5M | 173 t |
| 2021 | $28.3M | 146 t |
| 2020 | $12.0M | 71 t |
| 2019 | $58.8M | 316 t |
| 2018 | $39.8M | 254 t |
| 2017 | $32.3M | 207 t |
Where South Africa imports base stations from
China alone supplied 70% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $7.7M | 70% |
| United States | $1.3M | 12% |
| New Zealand | $1.2M | 11% |
| Hong Kong | $302K | 2.7% |
| Botswana | $127K | 1.1% |
| United Kingdom | $75K | 0.7% |
| France | $67K | 0.6% |
| Italy | $60K | 0.5% |
| Germany | $59K | 0.5% |
| Spain | $38K | 0.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $117.22 per kg, 30% above the world average of $90.45. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Base stations exports from South Africa
Exports of base stations by South Africa reached $3.6 million in 2024 (45 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Netherlands (27%), Zambia (25%), Zimbabwe (10%). Among the main buyer markets, Australia grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $958K | 27% |
| Zambia | $915K | 25% |
| Zimbabwe | $351K | 9.7% |
| Mozambique | $317K | 8.8% |
| DR Congo | $211K | 5.8% |
| Botswana | $130K | 3.6% |
| Eswatini | $108K | 3% |
| Germany | $80K | 2.2% |
| Australia | $66K | 1.8% |
| Namibia | $64K | 1.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa base stations imports (HS 8517.61): 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 8517.61: Base stations.
Common questions
What is the value of base stations imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported base stations worth $11.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 95 tonnes. That ranks it 66th of 214 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 69% on 2023.
Which countries supply base stations to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 70% of the value ($7.7 million), followed by the United States (12%) and New Zealand (10%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 45 supplier countries in total. Italy grew fastest among the top ten, up 155% on the year.
What is the average import price of base stations per kg?
The average declared import value was about $117.22 per kg in 2024, 30% above the world average of $90.45 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of base stations to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $32.3 million in 2017 to $11.1 million in 2024, a fall of 65%. The peak was 2019 at $58.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $32.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also export base stations?
Yes. South Africa exported $3.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the Netherlands, Zambia and Zimbabwe. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $7.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for base stations?
The HS code for base stations is subheading 8517.61. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8517 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.
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