Hard aged cheese exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of hard aged cheese by South Africa reached $43.2 million in 2024 (9.7 thousand tonnes). That is 16% 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 .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $43.2M | 9.7K t |
| 2023 | $37.3M | 8.4K t |
| 2022 | $32.1M | 7.3K t |
| 2021 | $31.9M | 6.9K t |
| 2020 | $26.2M | 6.3K t |
| 2019 | $24.4M | 5.2K t |
| 2018 | $28.9M | 5.5K t |
| 2017 | $28.5M | 6.0K t |
Where South Africa exports hard aged cheese to
The largest buyer markets were Namibia (28%), Saudi Arabia (18%), Botswana (14%). Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+119% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $11.9M | 28% |
| Saudi Arabia | $7.6M | 18% |
| Botswana | $6.2M | 14% |
| Zambia | $3.4M | 7.8% |
| Mozambique | $2.6M | 6.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $2.0M | 4.7% |
| Eswatini | $2.0M | 4.5% |
| Lesotho | $1.3M | 3% |
| DR Congo | $1.2M | 2.7% |
| Malawi | $871K | 2% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.46 per kg, 27% below the world average of $6.07, 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.
Hard aged cheese imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $16.2 million of hard aged cheese in 2024 (1.8 thousand tonnes). The largest suppliers were Italy (43%), United Kingdom (20%), Denmark (9%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $7.0M | 43% |
| United Kingdom | $3.3M | 20% |
| Denmark | $1.4M | 8.8% |
| Germany | $1.4M | 8.7% |
| Netherlands | $1.1M | 6.6% |
| France | $872K | 5.4% |
| Lithuania | $425K | 2.6% |
| Ireland | $269K | 1.7% |
| Switzerland | $245K | 1.5% |
| Greece | $118K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa hard aged cheese exports (HS 0406.90): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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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 0406.90: Dairy produce: cheese (not grated, powdered or processed), n.e.c. in heading no. 0406.
Common questions
What is the value of hard aged cheese exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported hard aged cheese worth $43.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 9.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 37th of 158 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 16% on 2023.
Which countries buy hard aged cheese from South Africa?
Namibia was the largest buyer with 28% of the value ($11.9 million), followed by Saudi Arabia (18%) and Botswana (14%). The top three together account for 60%, out of 55 buyer countries in total. The United Arab Emirates grew fastest among the top ten, up 119% on the year.
What is the average export price of hard aged cheese per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.46 per kg in 2024, 27% below the world average of $6.07 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of hard aged cheese from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $28.5 million in 2017 to $43.2 million in 2024, an increase of 51%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $31.6 million a year.
Does South Africa also import hard aged cheese?
Yes. South Africa imported $16.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Italy, the United Kingdom and Denmark. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $27.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for hard aged cheese?
The HS code for hard aged cheese is subheading 0406.90. It sits in HS chapter 04 (dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0406 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
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