Hot-rolled steel coil thin imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $110.5 million of hot-rolled steel coil thin in 2024 (176.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 9% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 21% 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 | $110.5M | 176.1K t |
| 2023 | $101.2M | 160.1K t |
| 2022 | $122.5M | 147.1K t |
| 2021 | $96.1M | 133.3K t |
| 2020 | $81.5M | 151.4K t |
| 2019 | $18.5M | 34.6K t |
| 2018 | $10.6M | 17.9K t |
| 2017 | $29.5M | 52.4K t |
Where South Africa imports hot-rolled steel coil thin from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 73% of the value. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+133% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $80.8M | 73% |
| Japan | $18.0M | 16% |
| India | $5.5M | 5% |
| Taiwan | $5.3M | 4.8% |
| Australia | $625K | 0.6% |
| Hong Kong | $71K | 0.1% |
| Sweden | $21K | 0% |
| Indonesia | $13K | 0% |
| Belgium | $9K | 0% |
| Germany | $0K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.63 per kg, close to the world average of $0.60.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Hot-rolled steel coil thin exports from South Africa
Exports of hot-rolled steel coil thin by South Africa reached $17.6 million in 2024 (24.6 thousand tonnes). Zambia alone took 55% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Pakistan grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $9.6M | 55% |
| Zimbabwe | $5.0M | 28% |
| Botswana | $595K | 3.4% |
| Eswatini | $573K | 3.3% |
| Pakistan | $525K | 3% |
| Vietnam | $318K | 1.8% |
| Uganda | $313K | 1.8% |
| Namibia | $239K | 1.4% |
| Kenya | $227K | 1.3% |
| France | $111K | 0.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa hot-rolled steel coil thin imports (HS 7208.39): 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 7208.39: Iron or non-alloy steel: in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, of a thickness of less than 3mm.
Common questions
What is the value of hot-rolled steel coil thin imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported hot-rolled steel coil thin worth $110.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 176.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 40th of 162 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 9% on 2023.
Which countries supply hot-rolled steel coil thin to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 73% of the value ($80.8 million), followed by Japan (16%) and India (5%). The top three together account for 94%, out of 10 supplier countries in total. Germany grew fastest among the top ten, up 242% on the year.
What is the average import price of hot-rolled steel coil thin per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.63 per kg in 2024, 5% above the world average of $0.60 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of hot-rolled steel coil thin to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $29.5 million in 2017 to $110.5 million in 2024, an increase of 275%. The peak was 2022 at $122.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $71.3 million a year.
Does South Africa also export hot-rolled steel coil thin?
Yes. South Africa exported $17.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $92.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for hot-rolled steel coil thin?
The HS code for hot-rolled steel coil thin is subheading 7208.39. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7208 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 steel coil thin trade: top importers and exporters
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