Low carbon round steel bloom exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
South Africa exported $134.2 million of low carbon round steel bloom in 2024 (259.5 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 7th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 92 countries. That is 8% less 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 .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $134.2M | 259.5K t |
| 2023 | $146.5M | 238.6K t |
| 2022 | $128.1M | 161.0K t |
| 2021 | $73.0M | 117.7K t |
| 2020 | $37.3M | 83.5K t |
| 2019 | $61.4M | 134.3K t |
| 2018 | $57.1M | 104.4K t |
| 2017 | $106.3M | 257.8K t |
Where South Africa exports low carbon round steel bloom to
Most of it went to Tanzania (20%), Sri Lanka (19%), Kenya (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Uganda grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $27.5M | 21% |
| Sri Lanka | $25.4M | 19% |
| Kenya | $21.0M | 16% |
| Ghana | $15.3M | 11% |
| Cameroon | $8.8M | 6.6% |
| Djibouti | $7.1M | 5.3% |
| Mauritius | $5.5M | 4.1% |
| Senegal | $5.4M | 4% |
| Pakistan | $4.4M | 3.3% |
| Uganda | $3.9M | 2.9% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.52 per kg, 48% below the world average of $1.00, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Low carbon round steel bloom imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $459 thousand of low carbon round steel bloom in 2024 (510 tonnes). One supplier dominates: Italy accounted for 77% of the value. Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+171% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $355K | 77% |
| Netherlands | $37K | 8.1% |
| Germany | $34K | 7.5% |
| India | $21K | 4.6% |
| Switzerland | $4K | 0.8% |
| Austria | $3K | 0.6% |
| China | $2K | 0.4% |
| United Kingdom | $1K | 0.3% |
| United States | $1K | 0.3% |
| Poland | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa low carbon round steel bloom exports (HS 7207.19): 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 7207.19: Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or square cross-section.
Common questions
What is the value of low carbon round steel bloom exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported low carbon round steel bloom worth $134.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 259.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 7th of 92 countries worldwide, with 4% of world exports. The value was down 8% on 2023.
Which countries buy low carbon round steel bloom from South Africa?
Tanzania was the largest buyer with 20% of the value ($27.5 million), followed by Sri Lanka (19%) and Kenya (16%). The top three together account for 55%, out of 32 buyer countries in total. Djibouti grew fastest among the top ten, up 691% on the year.
What is the average export price of low carbon round steel bloom per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.52 per kg in 2024, 48% below the world average of $1.00 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of low carbon round steel bloom from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $106.3 million in 2017 to $134.2 million in 2024, an increase of 26%. The peak was 2023 at $146.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $93.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also import low carbon round steel bloom?
Yes. South Africa imported $459 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $133.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for low carbon round steel bloom?
The HS code for low carbon round steel bloom is subheading 7207.19. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7207 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 low carbon round steel bloom trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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