Cold-formed steel bar imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported cold-formed steel bar worth $2.2 million (2.0 thousand tonnes). That is 8% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2017, at $4.3 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 | $2.2M | 2.0K t |
| 2023 | $2.4M | 1.7K t |
| 2022 | $4.2M | 2.9K t |
| 2021 | $3.6M | 3.0K t |
| 2020 | $2.0M | 1.9K t |
| 2019 | $3.0M | 2.3K t |
| 2018 | $3.0M | 2.3K t |
| 2017 | $4.3M | 3.6K t |
Where South Africa imports cold-formed steel bar from
The largest suppliers were Italy (35%), Turkey (25%), China (17%). Among the main suppliers, Turkey grew fastest (+63% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $767K | 35% |
| Turkey | $545K | 25% |
| China | $368K | 17% |
| Spain | $220K | 9.9% |
| Germany | $162K | 7.3% |
| Taiwan | $63K | 2.8% |
| India | $44K | 2% |
| United Kingdom | $40K | 1.8% |
| Romania | $2K | 0.1% |
| Brazil | $1K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.11 per kg, close to the world average of $1.23.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cold-formed steel bar exports from South Africa
Exports of cold-formed steel bar by South Africa reached $1.1 million in 2024 (1.3 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Australia (47%), Zimbabwe (19%), Eswatini (14%). Among the main buyer markets, Seychelles grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | $523K | 47% |
| Zimbabwe | $213K | 19% |
| Eswatini | $155K | 14% |
| Namibia | $59K | 5.3% |
| Seychelles | $41K | 3.7% |
| Tanzania | $25K | 2.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $22K | 2% |
| Mozambique | $21K | 1.9% |
| DR Congo | $11K | 1% |
| Botswana | $9K | 0.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa cold-formed steel bar imports (HS 7215.50): 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 7215.50: Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, n.e.c. in chapter 72, cold-formed or cold-finished, (not free-cutting).
Common questions
What is the value of cold-formed steel bar imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported cold-formed steel bar worth $2.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 55th of 196 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 8% on 2023.
Which countries supply cold-formed steel bar to South Africa?
Italy was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($767 thousand), followed by Turkey (25%) and China (17%). The top three together account for 76%, out of 16 supplier countries in total. Turkey grew fastest among the top ten, up 63% on the year.
What is the average import price of cold-formed steel bar per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.11 per kg in 2024, 10% below the world average of $1.23 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of cold-formed steel bar to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.3 million in 2017 to $2.2 million in 2024, a fall of 49%. The peak was 2017 at $4.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also export cold-formed steel bar?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Australia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for cold-formed steel bar?
The HS code for cold-formed steel bar is subheading 7215.50. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7215 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-formed steel bar trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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