Cold-finished stainless bar imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of cold-finished stainless bar by South Africa reached $15.9 million in 2024 (4.7 thousand tonnes). That is 34% 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 .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15.9M | 4.7K t |
| 2023 | $11.9M | 3.1K t |
| 2022 | $17.7M | 3.8K t |
| 2021 | $15.2M | 4.2K t |
| 2020 | $8.1M | 2.8K t |
| 2019 | $13.9M | 4.5K t |
| 2018 | $15.3M | 4.9K t |
| 2017 | $13.7M | 5.0K t |
Where South Africa imports cold-finished stainless bar from
India alone supplied 51% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+143% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $8.1M | 51% |
| China | $3.3M | 21% |
| Italy | $2.5M | 16% |
| Taiwan | $770K | 4.8% |
| Germany | $281K | 1.8% |
| France | $229K | 1.4% |
| Switzerland | $164K | 1% |
| Czech Republic | $146K | 0.9% |
| Slovenia | $80K | 0.5% |
| Ireland | $67K | 0.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.42 per kg, 28% below the world average of $4.78, 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.
Cold-finished stainless bar exports from South Africa
Exports of cold-finished stainless bar by South Africa reached $234 thousand in 2024 (86 tonnes). Botswana alone took 54% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Eswatini grew fastest (+384% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $127K | 54% |
| United States | $19K | 8% |
| Zambia | $18K | 7.8% |
| Mozambique | $14K | 6.2% |
| Eswatini | $13K | 5.4% |
| Kazakhstan | $7K | 2.8% |
| Netherlands | $6K | 2.6% |
| Mauritius | $5K | 2.3% |
| DR Congo | $5K | 2.2% |
| Canada | $4K | 1.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa cold-finished stainless bar imports (HS 7222.20): 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 7222.20: Steel, stainless: bars and rods, cold-formed or cold-finished.
Common questions
What is the value of cold-finished stainless bar imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported cold-finished stainless bar worth $15.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 40th of 184 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 34% on 2023.
Which countries supply cold-finished stainless bar to South Africa?
India was the largest supplier with 51% of the value ($8.1 million), followed by China (21%) and Italy (16%). The top three together account for 88%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. Slovenia grew fastest among the top ten, up 536% on the year.
What is the average import price of cold-finished stainless bar per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.42 per kg in 2024, 28% below the world average of $4.78 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of cold-finished stainless bar to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $13.7 million in 2017 to $15.9 million in 2024, an increase of 16%. The peak was 2022 at $17.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $14.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also export cold-finished stainless bar?
Yes. South Africa exported $234 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, the United States and Zambia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $15.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for cold-finished stainless bar?
The HS code for cold-finished stainless bar is subheading 7222.20. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7222 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 cold-finished stainless bar trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.