Chain part imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported chain part worth $3.7 million (668 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. The value was almost unchanged from 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 | $3.7M | 668 t |
| 2023 | $3.7M | 598 t |
| 2022 | $4.0M | 704 t |
| 2021 | $3.6M | 665 t |
| 2020 | $3.6M | 552 t |
| 2019 | $4.4M | 570 t |
| 2018 | $4.4M | 633 t |
| 2017 | $3.2M | 497 t |
Where South Africa imports chain part from
The largest suppliers were China (33%), Italy (24%), Japan (18%). Among the main suppliers, United Kingdom grew fastest (+945% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.2M | 33% |
| Italy | $906K | 25% |
| Japan | $669K | 18% |
| United States | $270K | 7.3% |
| Germany | $253K | 6.8% |
| United Kingdom | $231K | 6.2% |
| France | $43K | 1.2% |
| Austria | $22K | 0.6% |
| Finland | $18K | 0.5% |
| Netherlands | $17K | 0.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.54 per kg, close to the world average of $5.66.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Chain part exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $1.3 million of chain part in 2024 (108 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Zambia (29%), Botswana (28%), Malawi (14%). Among the main buyer markets, Senegal grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $386K | 29% |
| Botswana | $373K | 28% |
| Malawi | $183K | 14% |
| Mozambique | $78K | 5.9% |
| Eswatini | $57K | 4.4% |
| United States | $48K | 3.6% |
| Senegal | $43K | 3.2% |
| Namibia | $35K | 2.6% |
| Zimbabwe | $23K | 1.8% |
| Angola | $18K | 1.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa chain part imports (HS 7315.19): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 7315.19: Chain: articulated link parts, of iron or steel.
Common questions
What is the value of chain part imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported chain part worth $3.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 668 tonnes. That ranks it 27th of 192 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply chain part to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 33% of the value ($1.2 million), followed by Italy (24%) and Japan (18%). The top three together account for 75%, out of 41 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 945% on the year.
What is the average import price of chain part per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.54 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $5.66 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of chain part to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $3.2 million in 2017 to $3.7 million in 2024, an increase of 17%. The peak was 2018 at $4.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also export chain part?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Botswana and Malawi. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for chain part?
The HS code for chain part is subheading 7315.19. It sits in HS chapter 73 (iron or steel articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7315 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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