Burglar and fire alarms imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported burglar and fire alarms worth $25.1 million (335 tonnes). Value rose 49% on 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 | $25.1M | 335 t |
| 2023 | $16.9M | 158 t |
| 2022 | $20.2M | 207 t |
| 2021 | $20.9M | 219 t |
| 2020 | $15.2M | 169 t |
| 2019 | $22.9M | 260 t |
| 2018 | $26.9M | 304 t |
| 2017 | $28.2M | 323 t |
Where South Africa imports burglar and fire alarms from
Most of the value came from United Kingdom (24%), China (16%), Netherlands (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 50%. Among the main suppliers, Japan grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $6.1M | 24% |
| China | $4.1M | 16% |
| Netherlands | $2.3M | 9.3% |
| Poland | $2.3M | 9.1% |
| Japan | $2.1M | 8.3% |
| Hong Kong | $1.7M | 6.9% |
| Canada | $1.6M | 6.4% |
| Portugal | $653K | 2.6% |
| Germany | $582K | 2.3% |
| Israel | $449K | 1.8% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $74.89 per kg, close to the world average of $69.22.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Burglar and fire alarms exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $6.5 million of burglar and fire alarms in 2024 (118 tonnes). Most of it went to Namibia (14%), DR Congo (14%), Zimbabwe (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 38%. Among the main buyer markets, Nigeria grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $936K | 14% |
| DR Congo | $889K | 14% |
| Zimbabwe | $650K | 9.9% |
| Ghana | $567K | 8.7% |
| Botswana | $386K | 5.9% |
| Nigeria | $356K | 5.4% |
| Mauritius | $295K | 4.5% |
| Malawi | $286K | 4.4% |
| Zambia | $283K | 4.3% |
| Mozambique | $272K | 4.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa burglar and fire alarms imports (HS 8531.10): 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 8531.10: Signalling apparatus: electric, sound or visual, burglar or fire alarms and similar, other than those of heading no. 8512 or 8530.
Common questions
What is the value of burglar and fire alarms imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported burglar and fire alarms worth $25.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 335 tonnes. That ranks it 40th of 219 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 49% on 2023.
Which countries supply burglar and fire alarms to South Africa?
The United Kingdom was the largest supplier with 24% of the value ($6.1 million), followed by China (16%) and the Netherlands (9%). The top three together account for 50%, out of 61 supplier countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 965% on the year.
What is the average import price of burglar and fire alarms per kg?
The average declared import value was about $74.89 per kg in 2024, 8% above the world average of $69.22 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of burglar and fire alarms to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $28.2 million in 2017 to $25.1 million in 2024, a fall of 11%. The peak was 2017 at $28.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $22.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also export burglar and fire alarms?
Yes. South Africa exported $6.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, the DR Congo and Zimbabwe. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $18.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for burglar and fire alarms?
The HS code for burglar and fire alarms is subheading 8531.10. 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 8531 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World burglar and fire alarms trade: top importers and exporters
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