Concrete blocks exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
South Africa exported $3.3 million of concrete blocks in 2024 (42.7 thousand tonnes). That is 4% 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 .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.3M | 42.7K t |
| 2023 | $3.1M | 36.0K t |
| 2022 | $3.4M | 37.3K t |
| 2021 | $3.7M | 25.6K t |
| 2020 | $2.4M | 19.6K t |
| 2019 | $3.7M | 33.7K t |
| 2018 | $3.4M | 23.3K t |
| 2017 | $2.7M | 20.8K t |
Where South Africa exports concrete blocks to
One buyer market dominates: Lesotho accounted for 65% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, France grew fastest (+49% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | $2.1M | 65% |
| Botswana | $282K | 8.6% |
| Nigeria | $279K | 8.5% |
| Eswatini | $196K | 6% |
| France | $136K | 4.2% |
| Namibia | $94K | 2.9% |
| Zambia | $48K | 1.5% |
| Zimbabwe | $38K | 1.2% |
| Mozambique | $33K | 1% |
| Malawi | $29K | 0.9% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.08 per kg, 50% below the world average of $0.16, 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.
Concrete blocks imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $1.4 million of concrete blocks in 2024 (13.8 thousand tonnes). Botswana alone supplied 53% of it. Among the main suppliers, Turkey grew fastest (+493% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $721K | 53% |
| United States | $487K | 36% |
| United Arab Emirates | $46K | 3.4% |
| Turkey | $46K | 3.4% |
| China | $14K | 1.1% |
| India | $10K | 0.8% |
| Lesotho | $10K | 0.7% |
| Namibia | $6K | 0.5% |
| Germany | $4K | 0.3% |
| Poland | $4K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa concrete blocks exports (HS 6810.11): 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 6810.11: Cement, concrete or artificial stone: building blocks or bricks, whether or not reinforced.
Common questions
What is the value of concrete blocks exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported concrete blocks worth $3.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 42.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 39th of 129 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 4% on 2023.
Which countries buy concrete blocks from South Africa?
Lesotho was the largest buyer with 65% of the value ($2.1 million), followed by Botswana (9%) and Nigeria (9%). The top three together account for 82%, out of 18 buyer countries in total. Malawi grew fastest among the top ten, up 208% on the year.
What is the average export price of concrete blocks per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.08 per kg in 2024, 50% below the world average of $0.16 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have exports of concrete blocks from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $2.7 million in 2017 to $3.3 million in 2024, an increase of 21%. The peak was 2021 at $3.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also import concrete blocks?
Yes. South Africa imported $1.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Botswana, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $1.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for concrete blocks?
The HS code for concrete blocks is subheading 6810.11. It sits in HS chapter 68 (stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials; articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 6810 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
More trade data for South Africa
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