Hardwood poles exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported hardwood poles worth $3.3 million (6.7 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 10th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 107 countries. That is 29% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2023, at $4.7 million.
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 | $3.3M | 6.7K t |
| 2023 | $4.7M | 8.5K t |
| 2022 | $3.8M | 8.4K t |
| 2021 | $3.1M | 6.9K t |
| 2020 | $3.2M | 6.9K t |
| 2019 | $2.8M | 6.7K t |
| 2018 | $3.8M | 9.3K t |
| 2017 | $4.2M | 8.4K t |
Where South Africa exports hardwood poles to
Most of it went to Namibia (20%), United States (16%), France (14%). Among the main buyer markets, Seychelles grew fastest (+409% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $677K | 20% |
| United States | $518K | 16% |
| France | $472K | 14% |
| Mozambique | $360K | 11% |
| Seychelles | $289K | 8.7% |
| Israel | $194K | 5.8% |
| Greece | $134K | 4% |
| Italy | $104K | 3.1% |
| United Kingdom | $99K | 3% |
| Germany | $89K | 2.7% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.49 per kg, 30% below the world average of $0.70, 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.
Hardwood poles imports to South Africa
Imports of hardwood poles by South Africa reached $255 thousand in 2024 (2.5 thousand tonnes). Eswatini alone supplied 59% of it. Among the main suppliers, Eswatini grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | $150K | 59% |
| Netherlands | $86K | 34% |
| Namibia | $11K | 4.3% |
| China | $5K | 2% |
| India | $1K | 0.5% |
| South Korea | $1K | 0.4% |
| Botswana | $0K | 0.2% |
| Zimbabwe | $0K | 0.1% |
| Japan | $0K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa hardwood poles exports (HS 4404.20): 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 4404.20: Wood: non-coniferous, split poles, piles, pickets, stakes, pointed but not sawn lengthwise: sticks for umbrellas, tool handles etc, roughly trimmed but not turned or bent: chipwood etc, hoopwood.
Common questions
What is the value of hardwood poles exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported hardwood poles worth $3.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 6.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 10th of 107 countries worldwide, with 3% of world exports. The value was down 29% on 2023.
Which countries buy hardwood poles from South Africa?
Namibia was the largest buyer with 20% of the value ($677 thousand), followed by the United States (16%) and France (14%). The top three together account for 50%, out of 34 buyer countries in total. The Seychelles grew fastest among the top ten, up 409% on the year.
What is the average export price of hardwood poles per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.49 per kg in 2024, 30% below the world average of $0.70 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have exports of hardwood poles from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $4.2 million in 2017 to $3.3 million in 2024, a fall of 21%. The peak was 2023 at $4.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.6 million a year.
Does South Africa also import hardwood poles?
Yes. South Africa imported $255 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Eswatini, the Netherlands and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $3.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for hardwood poles?
The HS code for hardwood poles is subheading 4404.20. It sits in HS chapter 44 (wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 4404 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.
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