High-purity lactose imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of high-purity lactose by South Africa reached $20.5 million in 2024 (20.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. The value was almost unchanged from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $26.2 million.
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 | $20.5M | 20.2K t |
| 2023 | $20.3M | 15.9K t |
| 2022 | $26.2M | 19.0K t |
| 2021 | $20.4M | 17.5K t |
| 2020 | $13.3M | 12.9K t |
| 2019 | $16.1M | 15.5K t |
| 2018 | $12.4M | 14.3K t |
| 2017 | $12.7M | 11.4K t |
Where South Africa imports high-purity lactose from
The largest suppliers were Germany (32%), United States (14%), Netherlands (12%). Among the main suppliers, Netherlands grew fastest (+149% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $6.5M | 32% |
| United States | $2.9M | 14% |
| Netherlands | $2.6M | 13% |
| France | $2.5M | 12% |
| Canada | $2.3M | 11% |
| Denmark | $1.4M | 7% |
| Italy | $1.4M | 6.8% |
| Eswatini | $754K | 3.7% |
| New Zealand | $222K | 1.1% |
| India | $11K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.02 per kg, close to the world average of $1.24.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
High-purity lactose exports from South Africa
Exports of high-purity lactose by South Africa reached $1.7 million in 2024 (1.3 thousand tonnes). Zimbabwe alone took 56% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Zimbabwe grew fastest (+401% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $977K | 56% |
| Lesotho | $426K | 24% |
| Namibia | $162K | 9.3% |
| Nigeria | $80K | 4.6% |
| Mozambique | $32K | 1.8% |
| Botswana | $31K | 1.8% |
| Eswatini | $26K | 1.5% |
| DR Congo | $7K | 0.4% |
| Malawi | $4K | 0.2% |
| Kenya | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa high-purity lactose imports (HS 1702.11): 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 1702.11: Sugars: lactose and lactose syrup, containing by weight 99% or more lactose, expressed as anhydrous lactose, calculated on the dry matter.
Common questions
What is the value of high-purity lactose imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported high-purity lactose worth $20.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 20.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 19th of 156 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was up 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply high-purity lactose to South Africa?
Germany was the largest supplier with 32% of the value ($6.5 million), followed by the United States (14%) and the Netherlands (12%). The top three together account for 58%, out of 14 supplier countries in total. The Netherlands grew fastest among the top ten, up 149% on the year.
What is the average import price of high-purity lactose per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.02 per kg in 2024, 18% below the world average of $1.24 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of high-purity lactose to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $12.7 million in 2017 to $20.5 million in 2024, an increase of 62%. The peak was 2022 at $26.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $17.7 million a year.
Does South Africa also export high-purity lactose?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $18.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for high-purity lactose?
The HS code for high-purity lactose is subheading 1702.11. It sits in HS chapter 17 (sugars and sugar confectionery). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1702 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
World high-purity lactose trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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