Hot-rolled steel sheet thick imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of hot-rolled steel sheet thick by South Africa reached $57.8 million in 2024 (85.1 thousand tonnes). Value fell 11% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 20% 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 | $57.8M | 85.1K t |
| 2023 | $65.0M | 89.7K t |
| 2022 | $47.0M | 47.2K t |
| 2021 | $26.0M | 35.7K t |
| 2020 | $30.2M | 39.7K t |
| 2019 | $16.9M | 19.4K t |
| 2018 | $13.2M | 18.1K t |
| 2017 | $16.2M | 30.2K t |
Where South Africa imports hot-rolled steel sheet thick from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 85% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $48.9M | 85% |
| Indonesia | $4.6M | 7.9% |
| Denmark | $1.9M | 3.3% |
| Hong Kong | $1.8M | 3.1% |
| Netherlands | $416K | 0.7% |
| France | $114K | 0.2% |
| Belgium | $93K | 0.2% |
| Germany | $67K | 0.1% |
| Zambia | $26K | 0% |
| United States | $8K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.68 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 steel sheet thick exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported hot-rolled steel sheet thick worth $25.0 million (25.5 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Zambia (29%), Zimbabwe (20%), DR Congo (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Egypt grew fastest (+885% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $7.2M | 29% |
| Zimbabwe | $5.0M | 20% |
| DR Congo | $3.1M | 13% |
| Egypt | $3.0M | 12% |
| Vietnam | $2.2M | 8.8% |
| Mozambique | $1.4M | 5.5% |
| Namibia | $991K | 4% |
| Botswana | $501K | 2% |
| Belgium | $371K | 1.5% |
| Malawi | $299K | 1.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa hot-rolled steel sheet thick imports (HS 7208.51): 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 7208.51: Iron or non-alloy steel: (not in coils), flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, without patterns in relief, of a thickness exceeding 10mm.
Common questions
What is the value of hot-rolled steel sheet thick imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported hot-rolled steel sheet thick worth $57.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 85.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 42nd of 197 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 11% on 2023.
Which countries supply hot-rolled steel sheet thick to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 85% of the value ($48.9 million), followed by Indonesia (8%) and Denmark (3%). The top three together account for 96%, out of 18 supplier countries in total.
What is the average import price of hot-rolled steel sheet thick per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.68 per kg in 2024, 16% below the world average of $0.81 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of hot-rolled steel sheet thick to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $16.2 million in 2017 to $57.8 million in 2024, an increase of 258%. The peak was 2023 at $65.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $34.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also export hot-rolled steel sheet thick?
Yes. South Africa exported $25.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Zimbabwe and the DR Congo. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $32.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for hot-rolled steel sheet thick?
The HS code for hot-rolled steel sheet thick is subheading 7208.51. 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 sheet thick trade: top importers and exporters
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