Headphones and earphones imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $91.7 million of headphones and earphones in 2024 (1.0 thousand tonnes). Value rose 37% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 14% a year on average.
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 | $91.7M | 1.0K t |
| 2023 | $67.2M | 382 t |
| 2022 | $74.3M | 450 t |
| 2021 | $79.0M | 543 t |
| 2020 | $51.3M | 395 t |
| 2019 | $50.6M | 408 t |
| 2018 | $46.6M | 376 t |
| 2017 | $36.6M | 411 t |
Where South Africa imports headphones and earphones from
China alone supplied 63% of it. Among the main suppliers, Germany grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $58.2M | 63% |
| Vietnam | $19.2M | 21% |
| Germany | $5.0M | 5.5% |
| Poland | $2.0M | 2.1% |
| Hong Kong | $1.8M | 2% |
| Mexico | $1.6M | 1.7% |
| United States | $927K | 1% |
| Spain | $385K | 0.4% |
| Ukraine | $347K | 0.4% |
| Thailand | $320K | 0.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $88.93 per kg, close to the world average of $100.92.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Headphones and earphones exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported headphones and earphones worth $6.0 million (2.9 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Namibia (29%), Botswana (24%), Eswatini (7%). Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+424% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $1.7M | 29% |
| Botswana | $1.4M | 24% |
| Eswatini | $432K | 7.2% |
| Zambia | $258K | 4.3% |
| Netherlands | $257K | 4.3% |
| Lesotho | $221K | 3.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $198K | 3.3% |
| Nigeria | $180K | 3% |
| Mozambique | $170K | 2.8% |
| Angola | $152K | 2.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa headphones and earphones imports (HS 8518.30): 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 8518.30: Headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers.
Common questions
What is the value of headphones and earphones imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported headphones and earphones worth $91.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 40th of 220 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 37% on 2023.
Which countries supply headphones and earphones to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 63% of the value ($58.2 million), followed by Vietnam (21%) and Germany (5%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 78 supplier countries in total. Poland grew fastest among the top ten, up 212% on the year.
What is the average import price of headphones and earphones per kg?
The average declared import value was about $88.93 per kg in 2024, 12% below the world average of $100.92 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of headphones and earphones to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $36.6 million in 2017 to $91.7 million in 2024, an increase of 151%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $62.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also export headphones and earphones?
Yes. South Africa exported $6.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Botswana and Eswatini. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $85.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for headphones and earphones?
The HS code for headphones and earphones is subheading 8518.30. 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 8518 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.
Same product, other countries
World headphones and earphones trade: top importers and exporters
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