Leather finishing agent imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported leather finishing agent worth $4.7 million (1.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value fell 22% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 7% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $9.1 million.
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 | $4.7M | 1.8K t |
| 2023 | $6.0M | 1.9K t |
| 2022 | $7.7M | 2.4K t |
| 2021 | $6.1M | 2.2K t |
| 2020 | $4.6M | 1.7K t |
| 2019 | $6.9M | 2.4K t |
| 2018 | $9.1M | 2.9K t |
| 2017 | $8.0M | 2.9K t |
Where South Africa imports leather finishing agent from
One supplier dominates: Germany accounted for 51% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $2.4M | 52% |
| Italy | $666K | 14% |
| Brazil | $653K | 14% |
| France | $385K | 8.2% |
| United States | $294K | 6.3% |
| Netherlands | $125K | 2.7% |
| Spain | $83K | 1.8% |
| China | $50K | 1.1% |
| Singapore | $12K | 0.3% |
| Taiwan | $5K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.64 per kg, close to the world average of $3.06.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Leather finishing agent exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported leather finishing agent worth $1.7 million (521 tonnes). Most of it went to Namibia (46%), Indonesia (16%), Thailand (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Indonesia grew fastest (+192% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $772K | 46% |
| Indonesia | $270K | 16% |
| Thailand | $133K | 8% |
| Zimbabwe | $100K | 6% |
| Mexico | $83K | 5% |
| Malawi | $72K | 4.3% |
| Zambia | $67K | 4% |
| Japan | $36K | 2.2% |
| Germany | $36K | 2.1% |
| Madagascar | $36K | 2.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa leather finishing agent imports (HS 3809.93): 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 3809.93: Finishing agents and dye carriers: to accelerate dyeing or fixing of dye-stuffs, other products and preparations, used in the leather or like (excluding paper and textile) industries, (excluding those with a basis of amylaceous substances).
Common questions
What is the value of leather finishing agent imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported leather finishing agent worth $4.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 18th of 162 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 22% on 2023.
Which countries supply leather finishing agent to South Africa?
Germany was the largest supplier with 51% of the value ($2.4 million), followed by Italy (14%) and Brazil (14%). The top three together account for 80%, out of 17 supplier countries in total. Singapore grew fastest among the top ten, up 432% on the year.
What is the average import price of leather finishing agent per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.64 per kg in 2024, 14% below the world average of $3.06 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of leather finishing agent to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $8.0 million in 2017 to $4.7 million in 2024, a fall of 41%. The peak was 2018 at $9.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.6 million a year.
Does South Africa also export leather finishing agent?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Indonesia and Thailand. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $3.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for leather finishing agent?
The HS code for leather finishing agent is subheading 3809.93. It sits in HS chapter 38 (chemical products n.e.c.). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3809 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 leather finishing agent trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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