Cotton men's shirts imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $35.1 million of cotton men's shirts in 2024 (1.0 thousand tonnes). The value was almost unchanged from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 7% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $60.0 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 | $35.1M | 1.0K t |
| 2023 | $34.3M | 802 t |
| 2022 | $35.5M | 794 t |
| 2021 | $30.2M | 720 t |
| 2020 | $35.3M | 907 t |
| 2019 | $55.7M | 1.3K t |
| 2018 | $60.0M | 1.5K t |
| 2017 | $57.4M | 1.5K t |
Where South Africa imports cotton men's shirts from
The largest suppliers were Madagascar (33%), China (18%), India (10%). Among the main suppliers, Indonesia grew fastest (+55% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Madagascar | $11.5M | 33% |
| China | $6.4M | 18% |
| India | $3.5M | 10% |
| Bangladesh | $3.5M | 9.9% |
| Lesotho | $2.8M | 7.9% |
| Indonesia | $1.1M | 3.1% |
| Eswatini | $1.1M | 3.1% |
| Italy | $1.0M | 2.9% |
| Zimbabwe | $988K | 2.8% |
| Turkey | $800K | 2.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $34.78 per kg, close to the world average of $34.55.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cotton men's shirts exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $6.0 million of cotton men's shirts in 2024 (128 tonnes). Most of it went to Botswana (23%), Namibia (14%), Mozambique (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 48%. Among the main buyer markets, United States grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $1.4M | 23% |
| Namibia | $836K | 14% |
| Mozambique | $662K | 11% |
| Eswatini | $590K | 9.8% |
| Lesotho | $569K | 9.5% |
| Zambia | $496K | 8.3% |
| DR Congo | $264K | 4.4% |
| Kenya | $229K | 3.8% |
| Tanzania | $148K | 2.5% |
| United States | $122K | 2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa cotton men's shirts imports (HS 6205.20): 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 6205.20: Shirts: men's or boys', of cotton (not knitted or crocheted).
Common questions
What is the value of cotton men's shirts imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported cotton men's shirts worth $35.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 39th of 224 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 2% on 2023.
Which countries supply cotton men's shirts to South Africa?
Madagascar was the largest supplier with 33% of the value ($11.5 million), followed by China (18%) and India (10%). The top three together account for 61%, out of 89 supplier countries in total. Indonesia grew fastest among the top ten, up 55% on the year.
What is the average import price of cotton men's shirts per kg?
The average declared import value was about $34.78 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $34.55 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 shirts to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $57.4 million in 2017 to $35.1 million in 2024, a fall of 39%. The peak was 2018 at $60.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $42.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export cotton men's shirts?
Yes. South Africa exported $6.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $29.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for cotton men's shirts?
The HS code for cotton men's shirts is subheading 6205.20. 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 6205 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 shirts trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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