Cotton men's ensembles imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $7.2 million of cotton men's ensembles in 2024 (845 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is close to the 2023 level. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2022, at $9.7 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 | $7.2M | 845 t |
| 2023 | $7.3M | 387 t |
| 2022 | $9.7M | 497 t |
| 2021 | $7.7M | 416 t |
| 2020 | $5.6M | 164 t |
| 2019 | $6.4M | 369 t |
| 2018 | $3.8M | 287 t |
| 2017 | $3.9M | 144 t |
Where South Africa imports cotton men's ensembles from
One supplier dominates: Lesotho accounted for 51% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Zimbabwe grew fastest (+42% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | $3.7M | 51% |
| Eswatini | $1.9M | 27% |
| Zimbabwe | $1.0M | 14% |
| China | $216K | 3% |
| Pakistan | $100K | 1.4% |
| Greece | $79K | 1.1% |
| Bangladesh | $79K | 1.1% |
| Italy | $34K | 0.5% |
| India | $27K | 0.4% |
| Turkey | $12K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $8.52 per kg, 25% below the world average of $11.40, 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.
Cotton men's ensembles exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported cotton men's ensembles worth $2.1 million (91 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Angola alone took 76% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Angola grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | $1.6M | 77% |
| Namibia | $123K | 5.9% |
| Zambia | $56K | 2.7% |
| Eswatini | $49K | 2.4% |
| Botswana | $46K | 2.2% |
| Lesotho | $45K | 2.2% |
| Mozambique | $43K | 2.1% |
| Malawi | $27K | 1.3% |
| United States | $25K | 1.2% |
| Ghana | $20K | 1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa cotton men's ensembles imports (HS 6203.22): 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 6203.22: Ensembles: men's or boys', of cotton (not knitted or crocheted).
Common questions
What is the value of cotton men's ensembles imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported cotton men's ensembles worth $7.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 845 tonnes. That ranks it 11th of 206 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was down 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply cotton men's ensembles to South Africa?
Lesotho was the largest supplier with 51% of the value ($3.7 million), followed by Eswatini (27%) and Zimbabwe (14%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 37 supplier countries in total. Bangladesh grew fastest among the top ten, up 140% on the year.
What is the average import price of cotton men's ensembles per kg?
The average declared import value was about $8.52 per kg in 2024, 25% below the world average of $11.40 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of cotton men's ensembles to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $3.9 million in 2017 to $7.2 million in 2024, an increase of 84%. The peak was 2022 at $9.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.5 million a year.
Does South Africa also export cotton men's ensembles?
Yes. South Africa exported $2.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Angola, Namibia and Zambia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $5.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for cotton men's ensembles?
The HS code for cotton men's ensembles is subheading 6203.22. It sits in HS chapter 62 (apparel and clothing accessories; not knitted or crocheted). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 6203 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 cotton men's ensembles trade: top importers and exporters
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