Hot-rolled rectangular steel bar exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
South Africa exported $3.9 million of hot-rolled rectangular steel bar in 2024 (4.3 thousand tonnes). That is 4% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $5.7 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 | $3.9M | 4.3K t |
| 2023 | $3.7M | 4.4K t |
| 2022 | $3.9M | 3.5K t |
| 2021 | $5.7M | 7.2K t |
| 2020 | $3.1M | 4.4K t |
| 2019 | $3.9M | 5.4K t |
| 2018 | $5.0M | 6.3K t |
| 2017 | $4.8M | 6.1K t |
Where South Africa exports hot-rolled rectangular steel bar to
The largest buyer markets were Zimbabwe (33%), Mozambique (19%), Namibia (12%). Among the main buyer markets, Lesotho grew fastest (+522% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $1.3M | 33% |
| Mozambique | $737K | 19% |
| Namibia | $460K | 12% |
| Botswana | $415K | 11% |
| Zambia | $414K | 11% |
| Gabon | $191K | 4.9% |
| Malawi | $128K | 3.3% |
| DR Congo | $125K | 3.2% |
| Lesotho | $65K | 1.7% |
| Eswatini | $33K | 0.8% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.90 per kg, close to the world average of $0.81.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Hot-rolled rectangular steel bar imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $586 thousand of hot-rolled rectangular steel bar in 2024 (784 tonnes). Turkey alone supplied 61% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $360K | 61% |
| Botswana | $169K | 29% |
| China | $38K | 6.4% |
| Italy | $13K | 2.2% |
| United States | $4K | 0.7% |
| United Kingdom | $1K | 0.2% |
| France | $1K | 0.2% |
| Germany | $0K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa hot-rolled rectangular steel bar exports (HS 7214.91): 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 7214.91: Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, n.e.c. in heading no. 7214, of rectangular (other than square) cross-section.
Common questions
What is the value of hot-rolled rectangular steel bar exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported hot-rolled rectangular steel bar worth $3.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 29th of 100 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 4% on 2023.
Which countries buy hot-rolled rectangular steel bar from South Africa?
Zimbabwe was the largest buyer with 33% of the value ($1.3 million), followed by Mozambique (19%) and Namibia (12%). The top three together account for 64%, out of 16 buyer countries in total. Lesotho grew fastest among the top ten, up 522% on the year.
What is the average export price of hot-rolled rectangular steel bar per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.90 per kg in 2024, 11% above the world average of $0.81 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of hot-rolled rectangular steel bar from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $4.8 million in 2017 to $3.9 million in 2024, a fall of 19%. The peak was 2021 at $5.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $4.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also import hot-rolled rectangular steel bar?
Yes. South Africa imported $586 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Turkey, Botswana and China. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $3.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for hot-rolled rectangular steel bar?
The HS code for hot-rolled rectangular steel bar is subheading 7214.91. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7214 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 hot-rolled rectangular steel bar trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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