Bituminous coal exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported bituminous coal worth $5.93 billion (50.32 million tonnes). It ranks 8th of 79 countries for exports of this product. That is 20% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $11.20 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5.93B | 50.32M t |
| 2023 | $7.41B | 53.28M t |
| 2022 | $11.20B | 54.18M t |
| 2021 | $6.04B | 53.85M t |
| 2020 | $3.40B | 58.24M t |
| 2019 | $4.18B | 62.07M t |
| 2018 | $6.28B | 64.55M t |
| 2017 | $5.08B | 66.22M t |
Where South Africa exports bituminous coal to
The largest buyer markets were India (44%), South Korea (10%), Japan (7%). Among the main buyer markets, Vietnam grew fastest (+129% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $2.60B | 44% |
| South Korea | $595.3M | 10% |
| Japan | $395.1M | 6.7% |
| Vietnam | $341.4M | 5.8% |
| Pakistan | $283.9M | 4.8% |
| Germany | $240.9M | 4.1% |
| Taiwan | $223.0M | 3.8% |
| Netherlands | $176.4M | 3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $152.9M | 2.6% |
| Mozambique | $91.7M | 1.6% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.12 per kg, close to the world average of $0.14.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Bituminous coal imports to South Africa
In 2024, South Africa imported bituminous coal worth $151.4 million (1.36 million tonnes). One supplier dominates: Australia accounted for 67% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | $101.2M | 67% |
| Botswana | $30.1M | 20% |
| Mozambique | $18.0M | 12% |
| United States | $1.7M | 1.1% |
| Zimbabwe | $319K | 0.2% |
| Eswatini | $65K | 0% |
| United Kingdom | $10K | 0% |
| Namibia | $0K | 0% |
| Colombia | $0K | 0% |
| Nigeria | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa bituminous coal exports (HS 2701.12): 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 2701.12: Coal: bituminous, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated.
Common questions
What is the value of bituminous coal exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported bituminous coal worth $5.93 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 50.32 million tonnes. That ranks it 8th of 79 countries worldwide, with 5% of world exports. The value was down 20% on 2023.
Which countries buy bituminous coal from South Africa?
India was the largest buyer with 44% of the value ($2.60 billion), followed by South Korea (10%) and Japan (7%). The top three together account for 61%, out of 53 buyer countries in total. Vietnam grew fastest among the top ten, up 129% on the year.
What is the average export price of bituminous coal per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.12 per kg in 2024, 14% below the world average of $0.14 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of bituminous coal from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $5.08 billion in 2017 to $5.93 billion in 2024, an increase of 17%. The peak was 2022 at $11.20 billion. Over 8 years the average was $6.19 billion a year.
Does South Africa also import bituminous coal?
Yes. South Africa imported $151.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Australia, Botswana and Mozambique. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $5.78 billion a year.
What is the HS code for bituminous coal?
The HS code for bituminous coal is subheading 2701.12. It sits in HS chapter 27 (mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2701 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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