Iron ore exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported iron ore worth $6.69 billion (64.38 million tonnes). It ranks 4th of 130 countries for exports of this product. Value fell 11% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $10.51 billion.
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 | $6.69B | 64.38M t |
| 2023 | $7.47B | 65.69M t |
| 2022 | $8.84B | 72.57M t |
| 2021 | $7.87B | 65.98M t |
| 2020 | $4.98B | 61.09M t |
| 2019 | $10.51B | 90.25M t |
| 2018 | $7.67B | 84.89M t |
| 2017 | $6.36B | 63.26M t |
Where South Africa exports iron ore to
China alone took 50% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.38B | 51% |
| Netherlands | $826.4M | 12% |
| Mozambique | $669.8M | 10% |
| South Korea | $607.4M | 9.1% |
| Japan | $396.6M | 5.9% |
| Germany | $261.2M | 3.9% |
| Slovenia | $85.5M | 1.3% |
| Romania | $81.6M | 1.2% |
| Turkey | $75.2M | 1.1% |
| Serbia | $72.9M | 1.1% |
Product types under HS 2601
| 2601.11 | Iron ores and concentrates: non-agglomerated | 99% |
| 2601.12 | Iron ores and concentrates: agglomerated (excluding roasted iron pyrites) | 0.5% |
| 2601.20 | Iron pyrites: roasted | 0.4% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2601.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.10 per kg, close to the world average of $0.10.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 2601: Iron ores and concentrates; including roasted iron pyrites.
Common questions
What is the value of iron ore exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported iron ore worth $6.69 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 64.38 million tonnes. That ranks it 4th of 130 countries worldwide, with 4% of world exports. The value was down 11% on 2023.
Which countries buy iron ore from South Africa?
China was the largest buyer with 50% of the value ($3.38 billion), followed by the Netherlands (12%) and Mozambique (10%). The top three together account for 73%, out of 50 buyer countries in total. Slovenia grew fastest among the top ten, up 70% on the year.
What is the average export price of iron ore per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.10 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $0.10 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have exports of iron ore from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $6.36 billion in 2017 to $6.69 billion in 2024, an increase of 5%. The peak was 2019 at $10.51 billion. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
What is the HS code for iron ore?
The HS code for iron ore is heading 2601. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 2601.11 (99% of the value) and 2601.12 (1%). It sits in HS chapter 26 (ores, slag and ash). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2601 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see the companies that ship to and from it. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Same product, other countries
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