High-speed steel bar imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $4.0 million of high-speed steel bar in 2024 (533 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 27% 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 .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4.0M | 533 t |
| 2023 | $3.2M | 343 t |
| 2022 | $3.5M | 458 t |
| 2021 | $3.6M | 401 t |
| 2020 | $1.4M | 210 t |
| 2019 | $2.1M | 272 t |
| 2018 | $3.6M | 534 t |
| 2017 | $4.7M | 608 t |
Where South Africa imports high-speed steel bar from
India alone supplied 51% of it. Among the main suppliers, Canada grew fastest (+77% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $2.0M | 51% |
| Canada | $1.1M | 26% |
| Austria | $449K | 11% |
| Italy | $99K | 2.5% |
| China | $91K | 2.3% |
| Sweden | $80K | 2% |
| United States | $69K | 1.7% |
| Spain | $62K | 1.6% |
| Germany | $39K | 1% |
| France | $22K | 0.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $7.55 per kg, close to the world average of $8.08.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
High-speed steel bar exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported high-speed steel bar worth $1.1 million (560 tonnes). Zambia alone took 54% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Namibia grew fastest (+123% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $607K | 54% |
| Namibia | $201K | 18% |
| Botswana | $189K | 17% |
| Mozambique | $39K | 3.5% |
| DR Congo | $34K | 3.1% |
| Eswatini | $16K | 1.4% |
| Tanzania | $15K | 1.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $7K | 0.7% |
| Lesotho | $4K | 0.4% |
| United Kingdom | $4K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa high-speed steel bar imports (HS 7228.10): 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 7228.10: Steel, alloy: bars and rods, of high speed steel.
Common questions
What is the value of high-speed steel bar imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported high-speed steel bar worth $4.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 533 tonnes. That ranks it 31st of 158 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 27% on 2023.
Which countries supply high-speed steel bar to South Africa?
India was the largest supplier with 51% of the value ($2.0 million), followed by Canada (26%) and Austria (11%). The top three together account for 88%, out of 15 supplier countries in total. Sweden grew fastest among the top ten, up 170% on the year.
What is the average import price of high-speed steel bar per kg?
The average declared import value was about $7.55 per kg in 2024, 7% below the world average of $8.08 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of high-speed steel bar to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.7 million in 2017 to $4.0 million in 2024, a fall of 15%. The peak was 2017 at $4.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.3 million a year.
Does South Africa also export high-speed steel bar?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Namibia and Botswana. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for high-speed steel bar?
The HS code for high-speed steel bar is subheading 7228.10. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7228 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For South Africa, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World high-speed steel bar trade: top importers and exporters
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