Borates (other) imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $3.1 million of borates (other) in 2024 (1.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is close to the 2023 level. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 18% a year on average.
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 | $3.1M | 1.3K t |
| 2023 | $3.1M | 1.1K t |
| 2022 | $3.7M | 1.5K t |
| 2021 | $2.1M | 1.2K t |
| 2020 | $1.5M | 757 t |
| 2019 | $1.8M | 934 t |
| 2018 | $1.2M | 356 t |
| 2017 | $963K | 244 t |
Where South Africa imports borates (other) from
Most of the value came from Peru (42%), China (29%), Australia (12%). Among the main suppliers, Netherlands grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Peru | $1.3M | 42% |
| China | $906K | 29% |
| Australia | $361K | 12% |
| Canada | $173K | 5.6% |
| United States | $143K | 4.7% |
| Netherlands | $108K | 3.5% |
| United Kingdom | $37K | 1.2% |
| Germany | $21K | 0.7% |
| India | $15K | 0.5% |
| Brazil | $13K | 0.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.32 per kg, close to the world average of $2.02.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Borates (other) exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported borates (other) worth $384 thousand (300 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Zimbabwe accounted for 60% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Zambia grew fastest (+262% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $230K | 60% |
| Kenya | $51K | 13% |
| China | $38K | 9.9% |
| Zambia | $19K | 5% |
| Sierra Leone | $11K | 2.8% |
| Madagascar | $8K | 2.1% |
| Namibia | $6K | 1.6% |
| Tanzania | $4K | 1% |
| Botswana | $4K | 1% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $3K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa borates (other) imports (HS 2840.20): 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 2840.20: Borates: n.e.c. in heading no. 2840.
Common questions
What is the value of borates (other) imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported borates (other) worth $3.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 15th of 164 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was down 2% on 2023.
Which countries supply borates (other) to South Africa?
Peru was the largest supplier with 42% of the value ($1.3 million), followed by China (29%) and Australia (12%). The top three together account for 83%, out of 17 supplier countries in total. Peru grew fastest among the top ten, up 85% on the year.
What is the average import price of borates (other) per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.32 per kg in 2024, 15% above the world average of $2.02 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of borates (other) to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $963 thousand in 2017 to $3.1 million in 2024, an increase of 219%. The peak was 2022 at $3.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also export borates (other)?
Yes. South Africa exported $384 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Kenya and China. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for borates (other)?
The HS code for borates (other) is subheading 2840.20. 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 2840 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
More trade data for South Africa
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