High-purity zinc ingots imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of high-purity zinc ingots by South Africa reached $96.7 million in 2024 (38.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. 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 $196.8 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 | $96.7M | 38.6K t |
| 2023 | $95.7M | 32.4K t |
| 2022 | $196.8M | 70.2K t |
| 2021 | $97.3M | 46.8K t |
| 2020 | $74.3M | 31.2K t |
| 2019 | $61.4M | 23.8K t |
| 2018 | $52.0M | 21.2K t |
| 2017 | $125.4M | 43.0K t |
Where South Africa imports high-purity zinc ingots from
Brazil alone supplied 54% of it. Among the main suppliers, Japan grew fastest (+108% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | $51.8M | 54% |
| Japan | $11.5M | 12% |
| Spain | $10.7M | 11% |
| Belgium | $4.5M | 4.6% |
| India | $3.9M | 4% |
| Republic of the Congo | $3.8M | 4% |
| South Korea | $3.4M | 3.5% |
| Australia | $3.2M | 3.3% |
| China | $1.3M | 1.4% |
| Luxembourg | $909K | 0.9% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.51 per kg, 122% above the world average of $1.13. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
High-purity zinc ingots exports from South Africa
Exports of high-purity zinc ingots by South Africa reached $277 thousand in 2024 (79 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Zimbabwe accounted for 62% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $173K | 63% |
| Mozambique | $99K | 36% |
| Sri Lanka | $5K | 1.8% |
| Namibia | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa high-purity zinc ingots imports (HS 7901.11): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 7901.11: Zinc: unwrought, (not alloyed), containing by weight 99.99% or more of zinc.
Common questions
What is the value of high-purity zinc ingots imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported high-purity zinc ingots worth $96.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 38.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 24th of 135 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply high-purity zinc ingots to South Africa?
Brazil was the largest supplier with 54% of the value ($51.8 million), followed by Japan (12%) and Spain (11%). The top three together account for 77%, out of 17 supplier countries in total. Japan grew fastest among the top ten, up 108% on the year.
What is the average import price of high-purity zinc ingots per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.51 per kg in 2024, 122% above the world average of $1.13 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of high-purity zinc ingots to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $125.4 million in 2017 to $96.7 million in 2024, a fall of 23%. The peak was 2022 at $196.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $99.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export high-purity zinc ingots?
Yes. South Africa exported $277 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Sri Lanka. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $96.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for high-purity zinc ingots?
The HS code for high-purity zinc ingots is subheading 7901.11. It sits in HS chapter 79 (zinc and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7901 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 zinc ingots trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.