Ethylene glycol imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $42.6 million of ethylene glycol in 2024 (75.9 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 22% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $74.9 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 | $42.6M | 75.9K t |
| 2023 | $54.6M | 177.4K t |
| 2022 | $65.2M | 69.8K t |
| 2021 | $60.5M | 147.5K t |
| 2020 | $34.8M | 65.6K t |
| 2019 | $58.7M | 85.0K t |
| 2018 | $74.9M | 73.3K t |
| 2017 | $50.3M | 53.1K t |
Where South Africa imports ethylene glycol from
Saudi Arabia alone supplied 85% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | $36.1M | 85% |
| United States | $2.6M | 6.1% |
| Belgium | $1.1M | 2.5% |
| India | $924K | 2.2% |
| Kuwait | $526K | 1.2% |
| China | $488K | 1.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $308K | 0.7% |
| Germany | $224K | 0.5% |
| South Korea | $167K | 0.4% |
| Slovakia | $69K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.56 per kg, close to the world average of $0.56.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Ethylene glycol exports from South Africa
Exports of ethylene glycol by South Africa reached $751 thousand in 2024 (383 tonnes). Most of it went to Zambia (23%), Cote d'Ivoire (17%), Namibia (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest (+659% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $173K | 23% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $125K | 17% |
| Namibia | $123K | 16% |
| Tanzania | $60K | 7.9% |
| Mozambique | $56K | 7.4% |
| Angola | $44K | 5.8% |
| Ghana | $40K | 5.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $26K | 3.5% |
| Guinea | $24K | 3.1% |
| Botswana | $22K | 3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa ethylene glycol imports (HS 2905.31): 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 2905.31: Alcohols: acyclic, diols: ethylene glycol (ethanediol).
Common questions
What is the value of ethylene glycol imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported ethylene glycol worth $42.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 75.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 24th of 179 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 22% on 2023.
Which countries supply ethylene glycol to South Africa?
Saudi Arabia was the largest supplier with 85% of the value ($36.1 million), followed by the United States (6%) and Belgium (3%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 20 supplier countries in total. South Korea grew fastest among the top ten, up 852% on the year.
What is the average import price of ethylene glycol per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.56 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $0.56 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of ethylene glycol to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $50.3 million in 2017 to $42.6 million in 2024, a fall of 15%. The peak was 2018 at $74.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $55.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also export ethylene glycol?
Yes. South Africa exported $751 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Cote d'Ivoire and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $41.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for ethylene glycol?
The HS code for ethylene glycol is subheading 2905.31. It sits in HS chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2905 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.
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