Lubricating oil additive imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $143.4 million of lubricating oil additive in 2024 (36.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 4% 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 .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $143.4M | 36.8K t |
| 2023 | $149.9M | 36.5K t |
| 2022 | $172.5M | 46.4K t |
| 2021 | $121.6M | 38.7K t |
| 2020 | $122.7M | 38.2K t |
| 2019 | $125.5M | 37.6K t |
| 2018 | $130.7M | 39.4K t |
| 2017 | $128.3M | 39.8K t |
Where South Africa imports lubricating oil additive from
The largest suppliers were France (25%), Belgium (22%), United States (20%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+56% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| France | $35.9M | 25% |
| Belgium | $31.7M | 22% |
| United States | $28.3M | 20% |
| Singapore | $17.5M | 12% |
| Italy | $11.3M | 7.9% |
| India | $5.7M | 4% |
| Germany | $3.9M | 2.7% |
| Netherlands | $3.2M | 2.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $3.0M | 2.1% |
| China | $1.2M | 0.9% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.90 per kg, close to the world average of $3.90.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Lubricating oil additive exports from South Africa
Exports of lubricating oil additive by South Africa reached $7.2 million in 2024 (1.8 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Singapore (17%), Saudi Arabia (12%), Kenya (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 41%. Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | $1.3M | 18% |
| Saudi Arabia | $872K | 12% |
| Kenya | $823K | 11% |
| Tanzania | $796K | 11% |
| United Arab Emirates | $636K | 8.8% |
| United Kingdom | $587K | 8.1% |
| India | $560K | 7.7% |
| Zambia | $434K | 6% |
| France | $275K | 3.8% |
| Madagascar | $230K | 3.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa lubricating oil additive imports (HS 3811.21): 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 3811.21: Lubricating oil additives: containing petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals.
Common questions
What is the value of lubricating oil additive imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported lubricating oil additive worth $143.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 36.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 23rd of 198 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 4% on 2023.
Which countries supply lubricating oil additive to South Africa?
France was the largest supplier with 25% of the value ($35.9 million), followed by Belgium (22%) and the United States (20%). The top three together account for 67%, out of 25 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 64% on the year.
What is the average import price of lubricating oil additive per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.90 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $3.90 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of lubricating oil additive to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $128.3 million in 2017 to $143.4 million in 2024, an increase of 12%. The peak was 2022 at $172.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $136.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also export lubricating oil additive?
Yes. South Africa exported $7.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Kenya. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $136.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for lubricating oil additive?
The HS code for lubricating oil additive is subheading 3811.21. It sits in HS chapter 38 (chemical products n.e.c.). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3811 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 lubricating oil additive trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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