Carbonless (self-copy) paper forms imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of carbonless (self-copy) paper forms by South Africa reached $3.0 million in 2024 (1.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is 46% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 7% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $5.3 million.
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 | $3.0M | 1.6K t |
| 2023 | $2.0M | 1.2K t |
| 2022 | $3.0M | 1.7K t |
| 2021 | $3.9M | 2.5K t |
| 2020 | $3.5M | 2.3K t |
| 2019 | $5.3M | 2.5K t |
| 2018 | $4.9M | 3.0K t |
| 2017 | $4.9M | 3.1K t |
Where South Africa imports carbonless (self-copy) paper forms from
The largest suppliers were Germany (28%), Thailand (26%), China (23%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+637% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $846K | 29% |
| Thailand | $778K | 26% |
| China | $672K | 23% |
| Indonesia | $615K | 21% |
| India | $53K | 1.8% |
| Poland | $8K | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | $0K | 0% |
| United States | $0K | 0% |
| Canada | $0K | 0% |
| Australia | $0K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.89 per kg, close to the world average of $1.93.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Carbonless (self-copy) paper forms exports from South Africa
Exports of carbonless (self-copy) paper forms by South Africa reached $513 thousand in 2024 (216 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Namibia accounted for 84% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $430K | 84% |
| Mozambique | $22K | 4.3% |
| Botswana | $18K | 3.5% |
| Zimbabwe | $17K | 3.3% |
| Zambia | $9K | 1.7% |
| Lesotho | $7K | 1.3% |
| Eswatini | $6K | 1.1% |
| Malawi | $3K | 0.7% |
| Tanzania | $1K | 0.2% |
| Mauritius | $1K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa carbonless (self-copy) paper forms imports (HS 4816.20): 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 4816.20: Paper: self-copy paper (other than those of heading no. 4809), whether or not put up in boxes.
Common questions
What is the value of carbonless (self-copy) paper forms imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported carbonless (self-copy) paper forms worth $3.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 16th of 187 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was up 46% on 2023.
Which countries supply carbonless (self-copy) paper forms to South Africa?
Germany was the largest supplier with 28% of the value ($846 thousand), followed by Thailand (26%) and China (23%). The top three together account for 77%, out of 13 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 637% on the year.
What is the average import price of carbonless (self-copy) paper forms per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.89 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.93 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of carbonless (self-copy) paper forms to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.9 million in 2017 to $3.0 million in 2024, a fall of 39%. The peak was 2019 at $5.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also export carbonless (self-copy) paper forms?
Yes. South Africa exported $513 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for carbonless (self-copy) paper forms?
The HS code for carbonless (self-copy) paper forms is subheading 4816.20. It sits in HS chapter 48 (paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or paperboard). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 4816 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
World carbonless (self-copy) paper forms trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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