Bed linen imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of bed linen by South Africa reached $66.0 million in 2024 (10.7 thousand tonnes). That is 16% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $66.0M | 10.7K t |
| 2023 | $56.9M | 9.0K t |
| 2022 | $73.9M | 10.3K t |
| 2021 | $70.7M | 11.6K t |
| 2020 | $57.9M | 9.8K t |
| 2019 | $76.1M | 12.5K t |
| 2018 | $81.7M | 13.1K t |
| 2017 | $70.5M | 11.7K t |
Where South Africa imports bed linen from
Most of the value came from Pakistan (27%), China (24%), Botswana (22%). Among the main suppliers, Bangladesh grew fastest (+247% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | $17.7M | 27% |
| China | $15.8M | 24% |
| Botswana | $14.5M | 22% |
| India | $14.5M | 22% |
| Bangladesh | $1.2M | 1.8% |
| Portugal | $765K | 1.2% |
| Turkey | $540K | 0.8% |
| Italy | $312K | 0.5% |
| United Kingdom | $130K | 0.2% |
| Mauritius | $73K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 6302
| 6302.60 | Kitchen and toilet linen: of terry towelling or similar terry fabrics, of cotton | 66% |
| 6302.31 | Bed linen: of cotton (not printed, knitted or crocheted) | 8.6% |
| 6302.93 | Toilet and kitchen linen: of man-made fibres | 4.7% |
| 6302.91 | Toilet and kitchen linen: of cotton, excluding terry towelling or similar terry fabrics | 4.1% |
| 6302.32 | Bed linen: of man-made fibres (not printed, knitted or crocheted) | 2.9% |
| 6302.21 | Bed linen: of cotton, printed, not knitted or crocheted | 2.8% |
| 6302.10 | Bed linen: knitted or crocheted | 2.6% |
| 6302.22 | Bed linen: of man-made fibres, printed, not knitted or crocheted | 2.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 6302.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.19 per kg, close to the world average of $7.70.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Bed linen exports from South Africa
Exports of bed linen by South Africa reached $18.0 million in 2024 (2.0 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Namibia (33%), Botswana (20%), Zambia (7%). Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest (+40% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $5.9M | 33% |
| Botswana | $3.6M | 20% |
| Zambia | $1.3M | 7.2% |
| Eswatini | $1.2M | 6.9% |
| Lesotho | $1.1M | 6.3% |
| Mozambique | $751K | 4.2% |
| Zimbabwe | $633K | 3.5% |
| Tanzania | $544K | 3% |
| United States | $492K | 2.7% |
| Malawi | $345K | 1.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 6302: Bed linen, table linen, toilet linen and kitchen linen.
Common questions
What is the value of bed linen imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported bed linen worth $66.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 10.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 45th of 224 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 16% on 2023.
Which countries supply bed linen to South Africa?
Pakistan was the largest supplier with 27% of the value ($17.7 million), followed by China (24%) and Botswana (22%). The top three together account for 73%, out of 84 supplier countries in total. Bangladesh grew fastest among the top ten, up 247% on the year.
What is the average import price of bed linen per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.19 per kg in 2024, 20% below the world average of $7.70 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have imports of bed linen to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $70.5 million in 2017 to $66.0 million in 2024, a fall of 6%. The peak was 2018 at $81.7 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also export bed linen?
Yes. South Africa exported $18.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $48.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for bed linen?
The HS code for bed linen is heading 6302. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 6302.60 (66% of the value) and 6302.31 (9%). It sits in HS chapter 63 (textiles, made up articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 6302 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
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