Coated printing paper (heavyweight) imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of coated printing paper (heavyweight) by South Africa reached $36.6 million in 2024 (36.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 44% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $61.2 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 | $36.6M | 36.2K t |
| 2023 | $25.5M | 22.6K t |
| 2022 | $61.2M | 50.4K t |
| 2021 | $47.7M | 48.2K t |
| 2020 | $40.9M | 43.7K t |
| 2019 | $52.3M | 58.4K t |
| 2018 | $53.7M | 59.4K t |
| 2017 | $48.3M | 55.9K t |
Where South Africa imports coated printing paper (heavyweight) from
The largest suppliers were Finland (33%), Brazil (26%), China (16%). Among the main suppliers, Netherlands grew fastest (+420% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | $12.0M | 33% |
| Brazil | $9.4M | 26% |
| China | $5.8M | 16% |
| United States | $2.5M | 6.8% |
| Sweden | $1.9M | 5.2% |
| Netherlands | $1.8M | 4.8% |
| India | $1.4M | 3.9% |
| Germany | $604K | 1.7% |
| Indonesia | $314K | 0.9% |
| Spain | $299K | 0.8% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.01 per kg, close to the world average of $0.99.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Coated printing paper (heavyweight) exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $3.3 million of coated printing paper (heavyweight) in 2024 (2.6 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Zambia (30%), Botswana (15%), Zimbabwe (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Kenya grew fastest (+178% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $996K | 30% |
| Botswana | $493K | 15% |
| Zimbabwe | $445K | 14% |
| Namibia | $307K | 9.3% |
| Malawi | $253K | 7.7% |
| Mozambique | $224K | 6.8% |
| United States | $181K | 5.5% |
| Eswatini | $145K | 4.4% |
| Kenya | $129K | 3.9% |
| Madagascar | $91K | 2.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa coated printing paper (heavyweight) imports (HS 4810.29): 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 4810.29: Paper and paperboard: coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, having more than 10% of mechanically processed fibres, (excluding light-weight paper), for writing, printing or other graphic purposes, in rolls or sheets.
Common questions
What is the value of coated printing paper (heavyweight) imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported coated printing paper (heavyweight) worth $36.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 36.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 27th of 193 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 44% on 2023.
Which countries supply coated printing paper (heavyweight) to South Africa?
Finland was the largest supplier with 33% of the value ($12.0 million), followed by Brazil (26%) and China (16%). The top three together account for 74%, out of 29 supplier countries in total. The Netherlands grew fastest among the top ten, up 420% on the year.
What is the average import price of coated printing paper (heavyweight) per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.01 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $0.99 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of coated printing paper (heavyweight) to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $48.3 million in 2017 to $36.6 million in 2024, a fall of 24%. The peak was 2022 at $61.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $45.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also export coated printing paper (heavyweight)?
Yes. South Africa exported $3.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $33.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for coated printing paper (heavyweight)?
The HS code for coated printing paper (heavyweight) is subheading 4810.29. 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 4810 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 coated printing paper (heavyweight) trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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