Frozen beef exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported frozen beef worth $76.1 million (16.3 thousand tonnes). Value rose 40% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $76.1M | 16.3K t |
| 2023 | $54.4M | 10.7K t |
| 2022 | $53.1M | 12.7K t |
| 2021 | $73.9M | 16.9K t |
| 2020 | $73.6M | 19.1K t |
| 2019 | $48.4M | 12.1K t |
| 2018 | $66.6M | 16.2K t |
| 2017 | $54.9M | 13.0K t |
Where South Africa exports frozen beef to
Most of it went to China (27%), United Arab Emirates (12%), Egypt (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 50%. Among the main buyer markets, China grew fastest (+347% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $20.6M | 27% |
| United Arab Emirates | $8.8M | 12% |
| Egypt | $8.6M | 11% |
| Mozambique | $6.3M | 8.2% |
| Jordan | $5.8M | 7.7% |
| Lesotho | $4.1M | 5.4% |
| Angola | $2.8M | 3.7% |
| Kuwait | $2.1M | 2.8% |
| Mauritius | $2.1M | 2.8% |
| Seychelles | $1.9M | 2.5% |
Product types under HS 0202
| 0202.30 | Meat: of bovine animals, boneless cuts, frozen | 84% |
| 0202.20 | Meat: of bovine animals, cuts with bone in (excluding carcasses and half-carcasses), frozen | 16% |
| 0202.10 | Meat: of bovine animals, carcasses and half-carcasses, frozen | 0.6% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 0202.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.68 per kg, close to the world average of $4.82.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Frozen beef imports to South Africa
Imports of frozen beef by South Africa reached $13.2 million in 2024 (5.9 thousand tonnes). Most of the value came from Namibia (47%), Botswana (24%), United Kingdom (11%). Among the main suppliers, Ireland grew fastest (+90% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $6.2M | 47% |
| Botswana | $3.2M | 25% |
| United Kingdom | $1.4M | 11% |
| Ireland | $1.3M | 9.5% |
| Australia | $475K | 3.6% |
| Uruguay | $375K | 2.8% |
| United States | $139K | 1.1% |
| France | $72K | 0.5% |
| New Zealand | $46K | 0.4% |
| Netherlands | $22K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 0202: Meat of bovine animals; frozen.
Common questions
What is the value of frozen beef exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported frozen beef worth $76.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 16.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 30th of 131 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 40% on 2023.
Which countries buy frozen beef from South Africa?
China was the largest buyer with 27% of the value ($20.6 million), followed by the United Arab Emirates (12%) and Egypt (11%). The top three together account for 50%, out of 58 buyer countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 347% on the year.
What is the average export price of frozen beef per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.68 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $4.82 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have exports of frozen beef from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $54.9 million in 2017 to $76.1 million in 2024, an increase of 39%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also import frozen beef?
Yes. South Africa imported $13.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Namibia, Botswana and the United Kingdom. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $62.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for frozen beef?
The HS code for frozen beef is heading 0202. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 0202.30 (84% of the value) and 0202.20 (16%). It sits in HS chapter 02 (meat and edible meat offal). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0202 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see the companies that ship to and from it. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
More trade data for South Africa
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.