Colored printing ink imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $59.3 million of colored printing ink in 2024 (6.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 15% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2017, at $81.7 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 | $59.3M | 6.8K t |
| 2023 | $51.5M | 6.3K t |
| 2022 | $66.2M | 7.3K t |
| 2021 | $61.0M | 6.5K t |
| 2020 | $48.3M | 5.5K t |
| 2019 | $69.6M | 7.6K t |
| 2018 | $62.9M | 8.1K t |
| 2017 | $81.7M | 7.9K t |
Where South Africa imports colored printing ink from
Most of the value came from Switzerland (27%), Germany (13%), Netherlands (10%). Among the main suppliers, Switzerland grew fastest (+36% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $16.0M | 27% |
| Germany | $7.6M | 13% |
| Netherlands | $6.1M | 10% |
| Japan | $4.3M | 7.3% |
| United Kingdom | $4.2M | 7.1% |
| India | $3.5M | 5.9% |
| China | $3.0M | 5.1% |
| Sweden | $2.5M | 4.2% |
| France | $1.8M | 3.1% |
| United States | $1.8M | 3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $8.79 per kg, close to the world average of $8.29.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Colored printing ink exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported colored printing ink worth $32.7 million (2.7 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were United States (10%), France (6%), Malawi (5%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 22%. Among the main buyer markets, Brazil grew fastest (+98% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $3.4M | 10% |
| France | $2.1M | 6.5% |
| Malawi | $1.7M | 5.2% |
| Angola | $1.6M | 5% |
| Turkey | $1.4M | 4.3% |
| Zambia | $1.4M | 4.2% |
| Brazil | $1.3M | 3.9% |
| United Kingdom | $1.2M | 3.6% |
| Germany | $1.2M | 3.6% |
| Namibia | $1.1M | 3.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa colored printing ink imports (HS 3215.19): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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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 3215.19: Ink: for printing, other than black, whether or not concentrated or solid.
Common questions
What is the value of colored printing ink imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported colored printing ink worth $59.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 6.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 29th of 218 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 15% on 2023.
Which countries supply colored printing ink to South Africa?
Switzerland was the largest supplier with 27% of the value ($16.0 million), followed by Germany (13%) and the Netherlands (10%). The top three together account for 50%, out of 54 supplier countries in total. Switzerland grew fastest among the top ten, up 36% on the year.
What is the average import price of colored printing ink per kg?
The average declared import value was about $8.79 per kg in 2024, 6% above the world average of $8.29 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of colored printing ink to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $81.7 million in 2017 to $59.3 million in 2024, a fall of 27%. The peak was 2017 at $81.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $62.6 million a year.
Does South Africa also export colored printing ink?
Yes. South Africa exported $32.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the United States, France and Malawi. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $26.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for colored printing ink?
The HS code for colored printing ink is subheading 3215.19. It sits in HS chapter 32 (tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints, varnishes; putty, other mastics; inks). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3215 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 colored printing ink trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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