Coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $14.2 million of coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) in 2024 (15.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value rose 28% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $29.4 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 | $14.2M | 15.3K t |
| 2023 | $11.0M | 10.0K t |
| 2022 | $26.5M | 26.0K t |
| 2021 | $19.3M | 25.7K t |
| 2020 | $15.7M | 21.1K t |
| 2019 | $25.6M | 31.3K t |
| 2018 | $29.4M | 33.6K t |
| 2017 | $27.7M | 32.7K t |
Where South Africa imports coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) from
One supplier dominates: Finland accounted for 68% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Austria grew fastest (+152% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | $9.6M | 68% |
| China | $2.5M | 18% |
| Austria | $676K | 4.8% |
| United States | $346K | 2.5% |
| Japan | $317K | 2.2% |
| Germany | $255K | 1.8% |
| United Kingdom | $209K | 1.5% |
| Belgium | $65K | 0.5% |
| Canada | $31K | 0.2% |
| South Korea | $30K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.93 per kg, close to the world average of $0.88.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $238 thousand of coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) in 2024 (42 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Namibia (46%), Mozambique (29%), United Kingdom (11%). Among the main buyer markets, Namibia grew fastest (+189% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $108K | 46% |
| Mozambique | $69K | 29% |
| United Kingdom | $27K | 11% |
| Botswana | $19K | 8% |
| Eswatini | $5K | 2.2% |
| Zimbabwe | $3K | 1.4% |
| Lesotho | $3K | 1.3% |
| Zambia | $2K | 0.9% |
| Ghana | $0K | 0.2% |
| Saint Helena | $0K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) imports (HS 4810.22): 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 4810.22: Paper and paperboard: coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances only, having more than 10% of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibres, for writing, printing or other graphic purposes, light-weight coated paper, in rolls or sheets.
Common questions
What is the value of coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) worth $14.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 15.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 23rd of 178 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 28% on 2023.
Which countries supply coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) to South Africa?
Finland was the largest supplier with 68% of the value ($9.6 million), followed by China (18%) and Austria (5%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 20 supplier countries in total. Austria grew fastest among the top ten, up 152% on the year.
What is the average import price of coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.93 per kg in 2024, 6% above the world average of $0.88 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $27.7 million in 2017 to $14.2 million in 2024, a fall of 49%. The peak was 2018 at $29.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $21.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also export coated printing paper (mechanical fiber)?
Yes. South Africa exported $238 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Mozambique and the United Kingdom. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $13.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for coated printing paper (mechanical fiber)?
The HS code for coated printing paper (mechanical fiber) is subheading 4810.22. 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 (mechanical fiber) trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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