Hot-rolled steel sheet thin exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported hot-rolled steel sheet thin worth $8.3 million (9.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Value rose 11% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $10.6 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 | $8.3M | 9.6K t |
| 2023 | $7.5M | 8.0K t |
| 2022 | $5.7M | 4.7K t |
| 2021 | $6.2M | 4.8K t |
| 2020 | $3.4M | 4.5K t |
| 2019 | $3.8M | 4.5K t |
| 2018 | $10.6M | 15.2K t |
| 2017 | $5.9M | 9.5K t |
Where South Africa exports hot-rolled steel sheet thin to
Most of it went to Zimbabwe (40%), Zambia (32%), Malawi (6%). Among the main buyer markets, Mozambique grew fastest (+76% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $3.3M | 40% |
| Zambia | $2.7M | 32% |
| Malawi | $478K | 5.8% |
| Botswana | $412K | 5% |
| Namibia | $365K | 4.4% |
| DR Congo | $322K | 3.9% |
| Japan | $217K | 2.6% |
| Pakistan | $199K | 2.4% |
| Mozambique | $197K | 2.4% |
| Republic of the Congo | $33K | 0.4% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.87 per kg, close to the world average of $0.77.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Hot-rolled steel sheet thin imports to South Africa
Imports of hot-rolled steel sheet thin by South Africa reached $1.0 million in 2024 (657 tonnes). One supplier dominates: Austria accounted for 64% of the value. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+185% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | $647K | 64% |
| Thailand | $298K | 29% |
| China | $37K | 3.6% |
| Zambia | $12K | 1.2% |
| Denmark | $6K | 0.6% |
| Germany | $5K | 0.5% |
| France | $4K | 0.4% |
| Italy | $2K | 0.2% |
| Brazil | $2K | 0.1% |
| Namibia | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa hot-rolled steel sheet thin exports (HS 7208.54): 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 7208.54: 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 of less than 3mm.
Common questions
What is the value of hot-rolled steel sheet thin exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported hot-rolled steel sheet thin worth $8.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 9.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 21st of 98 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was up 11% on 2023.
Which countries buy hot-rolled steel sheet thin from South Africa?
Zimbabwe was the largest buyer with 40% of the value ($3.3 million), followed by Zambia (32%) and Malawi (6%). The top three together account for 78%, out of 21 buyer countries in total. The Republic of the Congo grew fastest among the top ten, up 470% on the year.
What is the average export price of hot-rolled steel sheet thin per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.87 per kg in 2024, 13% above the world average of $0.77 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 steel sheet thin from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $5.9 million in 2017 to $8.3 million in 2024, an increase of 41%. The peak was 2018 at $10.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.4 million a year.
Does South Africa also import hot-rolled steel sheet thin?
Yes. South Africa imported $1.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Austria, Thailand and China. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $7.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for hot-rolled steel sheet thin?
The HS code for hot-rolled steel sheet thin is subheading 7208.54. 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 thin trade: top importers and exporters
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