Kitchen knife sets imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported kitchen knife sets worth $3.4 million (329 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value rose 62% on 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
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.4M | 329 t |
| 2023 | $2.1M | 156 t |
| 2022 | $2.7M | 486 t |
| 2021 | $3.0M | 730 t |
| 2020 | $2.0M | 518 t |
| 2019 | $2.5M | 226 t |
| 2018 | $3.1M | 306 t |
| 2017 | $2.6M | 229 t |
Where South Africa imports kitchen knife sets from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 81% of the value. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+119% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.8M | 81% |
| Germany | $260K | 7.6% |
| Switzerland | $197K | 5.8% |
| Spain | $57K | 1.7% |
| Japan | $45K | 1.3% |
| Brazil | $28K | 0.8% |
| United States | $18K | 0.5% |
| Portugal | $13K | 0.4% |
| France | $4K | 0.1% |
| Hungary | $4K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $10.38 per kg, close to the world average of $10.55.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Kitchen knife sets exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $445 thousand of kitchen knife sets in 2024 (52 tonnes). Most of it went to Botswana (20%), Zambia (17%), Namibia (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Senegal grew fastest (+414% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $88K | 20% |
| Zambia | $77K | 17% |
| Namibia | $72K | 16% |
| Eswatini | $61K | 14% |
| Mozambique | $49K | 11% |
| Lesotho | $37K | 8.2% |
| Senegal | $16K | 3.6% |
| Angola | $9K | 2.1% |
| Zimbabwe | $7K | 1.6% |
| Tanzania | $6K | 1.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa kitchen knife sets imports (HS 8211.10): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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.
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 8211.10: Knives: with cutting blades, serrated or not (including pruning knives), sets of assorted articles, excluding knives and blades of heading no. 8208.
Common questions
What is the value of kitchen knife sets imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported kitchen knife sets worth $3.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 329 tonnes. That ranks it 27th of 202 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 62% on 2023.
Which countries supply kitchen knife sets to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 81% of the value ($2.8 million), followed by Germany (8%) and Switzerland (6%). The top three together account for 94%, out of 35 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 119% on the year.
What is the average import price of kitchen knife sets per kg?
The average declared import value was about $10.38 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $10.55 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of kitchen knife sets to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.6 million in 2017 to $3.4 million in 2024, an increase of 33%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $2.7 million a year.
Does South Africa also export kitchen knife sets?
Yes. South Africa exported $445 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, Zambia and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $3.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for kitchen knife sets?
The HS code for kitchen knife sets is subheading 8211.10. It sits in HS chapter 82 (tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof, of base metal). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8211 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
More trade data for South Africa
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.