Ground black pepper imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of ground black pepper by South Africa reached $13.3 million in 2024 (2.7 thousand tonnes). It ranks 10th of 219 countries for imports of this product. Value rose 59% on 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 | $13.3M | 2.7K t |
| 2023 | $8.3M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $10.9M | 2.4K t |
| 2021 | $7.0M | 1.6K t |
| 2020 | $7.2M | 2.1K t |
| 2019 | $7.0M | 1.7K t |
| 2018 | $8.1M | 944 t |
| 2017 | $9.9M | 1.5K t |
Where South Africa imports ground black pepper from
Most of the value came from Vietnam (48%), Thailand (25%), Brazil (11%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+235% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | $6.4M | 48% |
| Thailand | $3.3M | 25% |
| Brazil | $1.4M | 11% |
| India | $1.1M | 8.7% |
| China | $485K | 3.7% |
| Madagascar | $190K | 1.4% |
| Indonesia | $96K | 0.7% |
| Germany | $69K | 0.5% |
| United Kingdom | $31K | 0.2% |
| Spain | $19K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.99 per kg, close to the world average of $6.08.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Ground black pepper exports from South Africa
Exports of ground black pepper by South Africa reached $1.6 million in 2024 (613 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were United States (24%), Namibia (16%), Botswana (10%). Among the main buyer markets, Egypt grew fastest (+159% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $383K | 24% |
| Namibia | $263K | 17% |
| Botswana | $162K | 10% |
| Zimbabwe | $152K | 9.6% |
| Kenya | $126K | 7.9% |
| Mozambique | $89K | 5.6% |
| Zambia | $86K | 5.4% |
| Malawi | $37K | 2.3% |
| Seychelles | $37K | 2.3% |
| Egypt | $36K | 2.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa ground black pepper imports (HS 0904.12): 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 0904.12: Spices: pepper (of the genus piper), crushed or ground.
Common questions
What is the value of ground black pepper imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported ground black pepper worth $13.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 10th of 219 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was up 59% on 2023.
Which countries supply ground black pepper to South Africa?
Vietnam was the largest supplier with 48% of the value ($6.4 million), followed by Thailand (25%) and Brazil (11%). The top three together account for 84%, out of 36 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 941% on the year.
What is the average import price of ground black pepper per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.99 per kg in 2024, 18% below the world average of $6.08 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of ground black pepper to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $9.9 million in 2017 to $13.3 million in 2024, an increase of 34%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $9.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also export ground black pepper?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the United States, Namibia and Botswana. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $11.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for ground black pepper?
The HS code for ground black pepper is subheading 0904.12. It sits in HS chapter 09 (coffee, tea, mate and spices). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0904 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 ground black pepper trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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