Industrial sewing machines (manual) imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $13.5 million of industrial sewing machines (manual) in 2024 (735 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 12% 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 | $13.5M | 735 t |
| 2023 | $12.0M | 574 t |
| 2022 | $13.8M | 548 t |
| 2021 | $14.4M | 629 t |
| 2020 | $13.1M | 624 t |
| 2019 | $13.9M | 612 t |
| 2018 | $15.3M | 533 t |
| 2017 | $13.2M | 529 t |
Where South Africa imports industrial sewing machines (manual) from
China alone supplied 59% of it. Among the main suppliers, Singapore grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $8.0M | 59% |
| Singapore | $1.8M | 14% |
| Vietnam | $1.0M | 7.7% |
| Japan | $725K | 5.4% |
| Croatia | $437K | 3.2% |
| Germany | $356K | 2.6% |
| Taiwan | $341K | 2.5% |
| Italy | $267K | 2% |
| India | $130K | 1% |
| Netherlands | $115K | 0.9% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $18.38 per kg, 36% above the world average of $13.56. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Industrial sewing machines (manual) exports from South Africa
Exports of industrial sewing machines (manual) by South Africa reached $1.7 million in 2024 (104 tonnes). Most of it went to Eswatini (21%), Botswana (17%), Lesotho (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Ghana grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | $351K | 21% |
| Botswana | $290K | 17% |
| Lesotho | $276K | 16% |
| Namibia | $263K | 16% |
| Zimbabwe | $134K | 7.9% |
| Zambia | $91K | 5.3% |
| United States | $54K | 3.2% |
| Ghana | $53K | 3.1% |
| Mozambique | $48K | 2.8% |
| Cambodia | $44K | 2.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa industrial sewing machines (manual) imports (HS 8452.29): 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 8452.29: Sewing machines: not household or automatic unit type.
Common questions
What is the value of industrial sewing machines (manual) imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported industrial sewing machines (manual) worth $13.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 735 tonnes. That ranks it 27th of 202 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 12% on 2023.
Which countries supply industrial sewing machines (manual) to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 59% of the value ($8.0 million), followed by Singapore (13%) and Vietnam (8%). The top three together account for 80%, out of 38 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 316% on the year.
What is the average import price of industrial sewing machines (manual) per kg?
The average declared import value was about $18.38 per kg in 2024, 36% above the world average of $13.56 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of industrial sewing machines (manual) to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $13.2 million in 2017 to $13.5 million in 2024, an increase of 2%. The peak was 2018 at $15.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $13.7 million a year.
Does South Africa also export industrial sewing machines (manual)?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Eswatini, Botswana and Lesotho. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $11.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for industrial sewing machines (manual)?
The HS code for industrial sewing machines (manual) is subheading 8452.29. It sits in HS chapter 84 (machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8452 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for South Africa. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World industrial sewing machines (manual) trade: top importers and exporters
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