Coarse steel mesh exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported coarse steel mesh worth $12.9 million (10.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. That is 29% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $12.9M | 10.1K t |
| 2023 | $10.0M | 7.9K t |
| 2022 | $11.8M | 7.2K t |
| 2021 | $14.4M | 9.8K t |
| 2020 | $11.7M | 8.5K t |
| 2019 | $14.5M | 11.6K t |
| 2018 | $14.9M | 14.4K t |
| 2017 | $14.6M | 15.7K t |
Where South Africa exports coarse steel mesh to
The largest buyer markets were Zambia (21%), Tanzania (12%), Australia (12%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 45%. Among the main buyer markets, Senegal grew fastest (+952% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $2.7M | 21% |
| Tanzania | $1.6M | 12% |
| Australia | $1.5M | 12% |
| Lesotho | $1000K | 7.8% |
| Zimbabwe | $983K | 7.6% |
| Botswana | $948K | 7.4% |
| Namibia | $863K | 6.7% |
| DR Congo | $690K | 5.4% |
| Senegal | $680K | 5.3% |
| Eswatini | $518K | 4% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.27 per kg, 48% above the world average of $0.86. 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.
Coarse steel mesh imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $380 thousand of coarse steel mesh in 2024 (442 tonnes). China alone supplied 65% of it. Among the main suppliers, Germany grew fastest (+40% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $247K | 65% |
| India | $102K | 27% |
| Germany | $14K | 3.8% |
| Italy | $10K | 2.7% |
| Greece | $5K | 1.3% |
| United States | $1K | 0.3% |
| Brazil | $1K | 0.2% |
| Denmark | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa coarse steel mesh exports (HS 7314.20): 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 7314.20: Iron or steel wire: grill, netting and fencing, welded at intersections, of wire with a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 3mm or more and mesh size 100cm2 or more.
Common questions
What is the value of coarse steel mesh exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported coarse steel mesh worth $12.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 10.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 21st of 123 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was up 29% on 2023.
Which countries buy coarse steel mesh from South Africa?
Zambia was the largest buyer with 21% of the value ($2.7 million), followed by Tanzania (12%) and Australia (12%). The top three together account for 45%, out of 27 buyer countries in total. Senegal grew fastest among the top ten, up 952% on the year.
What is the average export price of coarse steel mesh per kg?
The average declared export value was about $1.27 per kg in 2024, 48% above the world average of $0.86 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of coarse steel mesh from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $14.6 million in 2017 to $12.9 million in 2024, a fall of 12%. The peak was 2018 at $14.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $13.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also import coarse steel mesh?
Yes. South Africa imported $380 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, India and Germany. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $12.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for coarse steel mesh?
The HS code for coarse steel mesh is subheading 7314.20. It sits in HS chapter 73 (iron or steel articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7314 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for South Africa. Tell us your product to see it live.
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