Broken rice exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported broken rice worth $17.5 million (27.7 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Value fell 16% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $27.6 million.
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 | $17.5M | 27.7K t |
| 2023 | $20.7M | 35.5K t |
| 2022 | $27.6M | 44.1K t |
| 2021 | $22.4M | 35.2K t |
| 2020 | $17.1M | 29.9K t |
| 2019 | $14.3M | 24.5K t |
| 2018 | $20.6M | 35.2K t |
| 2017 | $17.1M | 29.4K t |
Where South Africa exports broken rice to
The largest buyer markets were Eswatini (30%), Zimbabwe (25%), Botswana (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Eswatini grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | $5.2M | 30% |
| Zimbabwe | $4.3M | 25% |
| Botswana | $2.7M | 16% |
| Namibia | $2.6M | 15% |
| Lesotho | $1.5M | 8.5% |
| Zambia | $607K | 3.5% |
| DR Congo | $458K | 2.6% |
| Yemen | $21K | 0.1% |
| Saint Helena | $21K | 0.1% |
| Mozambique | $16K | 0.1% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.63 per kg, 31% above the world average of $0.48. 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.
Broken rice imports to South Africa
In 2024, South Africa imported broken rice worth $4.2 million (9.2 thousand tonnes). Thailand alone supplied 54% of it. Among the main suppliers, Paraguay grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $2.3M | 54% |
| Pakistan | $1.1M | 27% |
| Vietnam | $365K | 8.7% |
| Australia | $153K | 3.6% |
| Paraguay | $147K | 3.5% |
| China | $53K | 1.3% |
| India | $34K | 0.8% |
| Malawi | $19K | 0.4% |
| Tanzania | $12K | 0.3% |
| Botswana | $7K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa broken rice exports (HS 1006.40): 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 1006.40: Cereals: rice, broken.
Common questions
What is the value of broken rice exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported broken rice worth $17.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 27.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 18th of 132 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was down 16% on 2023.
Which countries buy broken rice from South Africa?
Eswatini was the largest buyer with 30% of the value ($5.2 million), followed by Zimbabwe (25%) and Botswana (16%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 29 buyer countries in total. The DR Congo grew fastest among the top ten, up 206% on the year.
What is the average export price of broken rice per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.63 per kg in 2024, 31% above the world average of $0.48 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of broken rice from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $17.1 million in 2017 to $17.5 million in 2024, an increase of 2%. The peak was 2022 at $27.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $19.7 million a year.
Does South Africa also import broken rice?
Yes. South Africa imported $4.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $13.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for broken rice?
The HS code for broken rice is subheading 1006.40. It sits in HS chapter 10 (cereals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1006 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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