Furnace carbon electrodes imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $48.5 million of furnace carbon electrodes in 2024 (15.5 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is 12% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $177.4 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 | $48.5M | 15.5K t |
| 2023 | $43.1M | 11.0K t |
| 2022 | $65.1M | 17.0K t |
| 2021 | $57.0M | 20.3K t |
| 2020 | $48.7M | 14.5K t |
| 2019 | $102.5M | 17.2K t |
| 2018 | $177.4M | 18.2K t |
| 2017 | $55.8M | 18.0K t |
Where South Africa imports furnace carbon electrodes from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 54% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Mexico grew fastest (+42% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $26.1M | 54% |
| India | $5.6M | 12% |
| Mexico | $5.2M | 11% |
| Spain | $4.7M | 9.6% |
| France | $3.5M | 7.3% |
| Canada | $1.0M | 2.1% |
| United States | $849K | 1.8% |
| Japan | $665K | 1.4% |
| Italy | $461K | 1% |
| Malaysia | $129K | 0.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.12 per kg, 32% above the world average of $2.37. 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.
Furnace carbon electrodes exports from South Africa
Exports of furnace carbon electrodes by South Africa reached $381 thousand in 2024 (49 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Sierra Leone (25%), Zimbabwe (21%), Botswana (15%). Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | $95K | 25% |
| Zimbabwe | $79K | 21% |
| Botswana | $58K | 15% |
| Namibia | $36K | 9.5% |
| DR Congo | $22K | 5.7% |
| Malawi | $19K | 5% |
| Eswatini | $16K | 4.3% |
| Uzbekistan | $13K | 3.5% |
| Mozambique | $10K | 2.5% |
| Nigeria | $9K | 2.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa furnace carbon electrodes imports (HS 8545.11): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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.
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 8545.11: Carbon electrodes: with or without metal, of a kind used for furnaces.
Common questions
What is the value of furnace carbon electrodes imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported furnace carbon electrodes worth $48.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 15.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 16th of 156 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was up 12% on 2023.
Which countries supply furnace carbon electrodes to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 54% of the value ($26.1 million), followed by India (12%) and Mexico (11%). The top three together account for 76%, out of 22 supplier countries in total. Canada grew fastest among the top ten, up 376% on the year.
What is the average import price of furnace carbon electrodes per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.12 per kg in 2024, 32% above the world average of $2.37 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of furnace carbon electrodes to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $55.8 million in 2017 to $48.5 million in 2024, a fall of 13%. The peak was 2018 at $177.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $74.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also export furnace carbon electrodes?
Yes. South Africa exported $381 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Botswana. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $48.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for furnace carbon electrodes?
The HS code for furnace carbon electrodes is subheading 8545.11. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8545 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 furnace carbon electrodes trade: top importers and exporters
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.