Dried lentils imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $7.9 million of dried lentils in 2024 (7.0 thousand tonnes). That is 11% 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 .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7.9M | 7.0K t |
| 2023 | $7.1M | 7.4K t |
| 2022 | $6.5M | 5.9K t |
| 2021 | $6.0M | 7.2K t |
| 2020 | $6.6M | 9.6K t |
| 2019 | $4.4M | 8.0K t |
| 2018 | $4.8M | 7.4K t |
| 2017 | $6.1M | 7.3K t |
Where South Africa imports dried lentils from
Most of the value came from Canada (35%), India (19%), United Arab Emirates (16%). Among the main suppliers, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+51% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $2.8M | 35% |
| India | $1.5M | 19% |
| United Arab Emirates | $1.2M | 16% |
| Turkey | $1.1M | 14% |
| Kazakhstan | $397K | 5% |
| Australia | $304K | 3.8% |
| Ukraine | $221K | 2.8% |
| Romania | $100K | 1.3% |
| Thailand | $66K | 0.8% |
| Myanmar | $56K | 0.7% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.13 per kg, 36% above the world average of $0.83. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Dried lentils exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $394 thousand of dried lentils in 2024 (343 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Namibia (33%), United Kingdom (21%), Lesotho (12%). Among the main buyer markets, Zimbabwe grew fastest (+442% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $129K | 33% |
| United Kingdom | $83K | 21% |
| Lesotho | $47K | 12% |
| Botswana | $37K | 9.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $36K | 9% |
| Eswatini | $23K | 5.7% |
| Angola | $19K | 4.8% |
| Mozambique | $13K | 3.3% |
| Malawi | $3K | 0.7% |
| Nigeria | $2K | 0.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa dried lentils imports (HS 0713.40): 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 0713.40: Vegetables, leguminous: lentils, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried.
Common questions
What is the value of dried lentils imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported dried lentils worth $7.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 7.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 45th of 211 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 11% on 2023.
Which countries supply dried lentils to South Africa?
Canada was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($2.8 million), followed by India (19%) and the United Arab Emirates (16%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 24 supplier countries in total. The United Arab Emirates grew fastest among the top ten, up 51% on the year.
What is the average import price of dried lentils per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.13 per kg in 2024, 36% above the world average of $0.83 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of dried lentils to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $6.1 million in 2017 to $7.9 million in 2024, an increase of 29%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $6.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also export dried lentils?
Yes. South Africa exported $394 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, the United Kingdom and Lesotho. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $7.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for dried lentils?
The HS code for dried lentils is subheading 0713.40. It sits in HS chapter 07 (vegetables and certain roots and tubers; edible). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0713 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for South Africa. Tell us your product to see it live.
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