Low voltage switch imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported low voltage switch worth $393.6 million (18.3 thousand tonnes). Value fell 10% from 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 | $393.6M | 18.3K t |
| 2023 | $437.8M | 23.5K t |
| 2022 | $408.2M | 25.8K t |
| 2021 | $382.8M | 23.6K t |
| 2020 | $287.4M | 19.3K t |
| 2019 | $339.4M | 23.7K t |
| 2018 | $356.5M | 21.3K t |
| 2017 | $366.5M | 17.0K t |
Where South Africa imports low voltage switch from
Most of the value came from China (26%), Germany (12%), Lesotho (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 46%.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $102.1M | 26% |
| Germany | $48.2M | 12% |
| Lesotho | $32.3M | 8.2% |
| United States | $30.9M | 7.9% |
| France | $25.8M | 6.6% |
| Italy | $23.1M | 5.9% |
| Japan | $10.9M | 2.8% |
| Mexico | $10.3M | 2.6% |
| India | $10.0M | 2.5% |
| United Kingdom | $9.9M | 2.5% |
Product types under HS 8536
| 8536.50 | Electrical apparatus: switches n.e.c. in heading no. 8536, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts | 22% |
| 8536.90 | Electrical apparatus: n.e.c. in heading no. 8536, for switching or protecting electrical circuits, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts | 20% |
| 8536.20 | Electrical apparatus: automatic circuit breakers, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts | 19% |
| 8536.69 | Electrical apparatus: plugs and sockets, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts | 13% |
| 8536.49 | Electrical apparatus: relays, for a voltage exceeding 60 volts | 8.3% |
| 8536.30 | Electrical apparatus: for protecting electrical circuits, n.e.c. in heading no. 8536, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts | 7.1% |
| 8536.10 | Electrical apparatus: fuses, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts | 3.3% |
| 8536.41 | Electrical apparatus: relays, (for a voltage not exceeding 60 volts) | 2.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8536.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $21.50 per kg, 42% below the world average of $37.06, 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 voltage switch exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported low voltage switch worth $133.6 million (7.3 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Botswana (12%), Namibia (10%), United States (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 31%. Among the main buyer markets, Austria grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $15.5M | 12% |
| Namibia | $13.7M | 10% |
| United States | $12.5M | 9.4% |
| Mozambique | $11.4M | 8.5% |
| Eswatini | $8.3M | 6.2% |
| Lesotho | $7.8M | 5.8% |
| Zambia | $7.1M | 5.3% |
| Austria | $6.9M | 5.2% |
| DR Congo | $6.8M | 5.1% |
| Zimbabwe | $6.3M | 4.7% |
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 8536: Electrical apparatus for switching, protecting electrical circuits, for making connections to or in electrical circuits, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts; connectors for optical fibres, optical fibre bundles or cables.
Common questions
What is the value of low voltage switch imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported low voltage switch worth $393.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 18.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 44th of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 10% on 2023.
Which countries supply low voltage switch to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 26% of the value ($102.1 million), followed by Germany (12%) and Lesotho (8%). The top three together account for 46%, out of 146 supplier countries in total. Lesotho grew fastest among the top ten, up 20% on the year.
What is the average import price of low voltage switch per kg?
The average declared import value was about $21.50 per kg in 2024, 42% below the world average of $37.06 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 imports of low voltage switch to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $366.5 million in 2017 to $393.6 million in 2024, an increase of 7%. The peak was 2023 at $437.8 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also export low voltage switch?
Yes. South Africa exported $133.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, Namibia and the United States. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $260.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for low voltage switch?
The HS code for low voltage switch is heading 8536. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 8536.50 (22% of the value) and 8536.90 (20%). It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8536 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
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