Forged steel bar exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported forged steel bar worth $3.1 million (4.1 thousand tonnes). That is 31% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 21% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $18.0 million.
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 | $3.1M | 4.1K t |
| 2023 | $4.5M | 3.2K t |
| 2022 | $8.1M | 8.7K t |
| 2021 | $4.4M | 4.2K t |
| 2020 | $3.7M | 4.9K t |
| 2019 | $9.0M | 16.3K t |
| 2018 | $18.0M | 25.0K t |
| 2017 | $16.4M | 26.7K t |
Where South Africa exports forged steel bar to
The largest buyer markets were Mauritius (28%), Lesotho (22%), Malawi (11%). Among the main buyer markets, Botswana grew fastest (+161% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | $858K | 28% |
| Lesotho | $693K | 22% |
| Malawi | $331K | 11% |
| Eswatini | $290K | 9.4% |
| Namibia | $262K | 8.5% |
| Mozambique | $233K | 7.6% |
| Botswana | $166K | 5.4% |
| Seychelles | $162K | 5.2% |
| Zambia | $47K | 1.5% |
| Tanzania | $19K | 0.6% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.75 per kg, close to the world average of $0.70.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Forged steel bar imports to South Africa
In 2024, South Africa imported forged steel bar worth $347 thousand (346 tonnes). One supplier dominates: China accounted for 67% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Botswana grew fastest (+42% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $232K | 67% |
| Botswana | $82K | 24% |
| Germany | $18K | 5.2% |
| France | $9K | 2.6% |
| India | $5K | 1.4% |
| Italy | $1K | 0.3% |
| Zambia | $0K | 0.1% |
| Spain | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa forged steel bar exports (HS 7214.10): 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 7214.10: Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, forged, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, but including those twisted after rolling.
Common questions
What is the value of forged steel bar exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported forged steel bar worth $3.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 24th of 106 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was down 31% on 2023.
Which countries buy forged steel bar from South Africa?
Mauritius was the largest buyer with 28% of the value ($858 thousand), followed by Lesotho (22%) and Malawi (11%). The top three together account for 61%, out of 16 buyer countries in total. Botswana grew fastest among the top ten, up 161% on the year.
What is the average export price of forged steel bar per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.75 per kg in 2024, 7% above the world average of $0.70 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of forged steel bar from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $16.4 million in 2017 to $3.1 million in 2024, a fall of 81%. The peak was 2018 at $18.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $8.4 million a year.
Does South Africa also import forged steel bar?
Yes. South Africa imported $347 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, Botswana and Germany. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $2.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for forged steel bar?
The HS code for forged steel bar is subheading 7214.10. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7214 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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