Glass microspheres imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $2.6 million of glass microspheres in 2024 (5.0 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 61% 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 | $2.6M | 5.0K t |
| 2023 | $1.6M | 2.8K t |
| 2022 | $1.3M | 2.5K t |
| 2021 | $859K | 5.8K t |
| 2020 | $789K | 2.0K t |
| 2019 | $1.6M | 3.6K t |
| 2018 | $2.1M | 4.6K t |
| 2017 | $1.7M | 4.0K t |
Where South Africa imports glass microspheres from
China alone supplied 59% of it. Among the main suppliers, France grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.5M | 59% |
| United States | $408K | 16% |
| France | $326K | 13% |
| Germany | $166K | 6.4% |
| Saudi Arabia | $58K | 2.2% |
| United Kingdom | $53K | 2% |
| Netherlands | $43K | 1.7% |
| Portugal | $3K | 0.1% |
| Italy | $3K | 0.1% |
| Switzerland | $0K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.53 per kg, 49% below the world average of $1.03, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa glass microspheres imports (HS 7018.20): 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 7018.20: Glass microspheres: not exceeding 1mm in diameter.
Common questions
What is the value of glass microspheres imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported glass microspheres worth $2.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 5.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 37th of 175 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 61% on 2023.
Which countries supply glass microspheres to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 59% of the value ($1.5 million), followed by the United States (16%) and France (13%). The top three together account for 87%, out of 14 supplier countries in total. Saudi Arabia grew fastest among the top ten, up 244% on the year.
What is the average import price of glass microspheres per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.53 per kg in 2024, 49% below the world average of $1.03 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of glass microspheres to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.7 million in 2017 to $2.6 million in 2024, an increase of 56%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $1.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for glass microspheres?
The HS code for glass microspheres is subheading 7018.20. It sits in HS chapter 70 (glass and glassware). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7018 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.
Same product, other countries
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