Chewing gum imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of chewing gum by South Africa reached $31.9 million in 2024 (14.7 thousand tonnes). It ranks 4th of 217 countries for imports of this product. Value rose 18% 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 | $31.9M | 14.7K t |
| 2023 | $27.1M | 12.8K t |
| 2022 | $23.1M | 11.1K t |
| 2021 | $23.5M | 11.1K t |
| 2020 | $18.7M | 10.1K t |
| 2019 | $25.1M | 13.4K t |
| 2018 | $31.4M | 11.2K t |
| 2017 | $24.9M | 11.1K t |
Where South Africa imports chewing gum from
Eswatini alone supplied 89% of it. Among the main suppliers, Egypt grew fastest (+32% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | $28.3M | 89% |
| Egypt | $1.5M | 4.7% |
| Zambia | $1.2M | 3.7% |
| China | $347K | 1.1% |
| Zimbabwe | $176K | 0.6% |
| Pakistan | $128K | 0.4% |
| United States | $98K | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | $83K | 0.3% |
| Turkey | $81K | 0.3% |
| Brazil | $20K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.18 per kg, 44% below the world average of $3.89, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Chewing gum exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $17.2 million of chewing gum in 2024 (3.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 2%. Most of it went to Mozambique (27%), Botswana (23%), Namibia (18%). Among the main buyer markets, Zimbabwe grew fastest (+132% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | $4.6M | 27% |
| Botswana | $4.0M | 23% |
| Namibia | $3.0M | 18% |
| Eswatini | $2.1M | 12% |
| Zimbabwe | $1.3M | 7.4% |
| Lesotho | $1.3M | 7.3% |
| Zambia | $420K | 2.4% |
| Angola | $95K | 0.6% |
| Malawi | $91K | 0.5% |
| Mauritius | $88K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa chewing gum imports (HS 1704.10): 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 1704.10: Sugar confectionery: chewing gum, whether or not sugar-coated, not containing cocoa.
Common questions
What is the value of chewing gum imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported chewing gum worth $31.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 14.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 4th of 217 countries worldwide, with 3% of world imports. The value was up 18% on 2023.
Which countries supply chewing gum to South Africa?
Eswatini was the largest supplier with 89% of the value ($28.3 million), followed by Egypt (5%) and Zambia (4%). The top three together account for 97%, out of 42 supplier countries in total. Zambia grew fastest among the top ten, up 396% on the year.
What is the average import price of chewing gum per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.18 per kg in 2024, 44% below the world average of $3.89 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of chewing gum to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $24.9 million in 2017 to $31.9 million in 2024, an increase of 28%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $25.7 million a year.
Does South Africa also export chewing gum?
Yes. South Africa exported $17.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $14.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for chewing gum?
The HS code for chewing gum is subheading 1704.10. It sits in HS chapter 17 (sugars and sugar confectionery). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1704 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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