Manual wristwatches imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported manual wristwatches worth $3.4 million (4 tonnes). That is 4% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $5.8 million.
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 | 4 t |
| 2023 | $3.5M | 5 t |
| 2022 | $5.8M | 32 t |
| 2021 | $2.4M | 19 t |
| 2020 | $2.1M | 185 t |
| 2019 | $4.7M | 2 t |
| 2018 | $4.2M | 1 t |
| 2017 | $4.5M | 754 t |
Where South Africa imports manual wristwatches from
Most of the value came from China (44%), Switzerland (42%), Thailand (6%). Among the main suppliers, Thailand grew fastest (+120% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.5M | 44% |
| Switzerland | $1.4M | 42% |
| Thailand | $196K | 5.8% |
| Japan | $67K | 2% |
| Philippines | $54K | 1.6% |
| United States | $19K | 0.6% |
| Netherlands | $18K | 0.5% |
| Ireland | $16K | 0.5% |
| Germany | $11K | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | $10K | 0.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $846.88 per kg, close to the world average of $721.02.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Manual wristwatches exports from South Africa
Exports of manual wristwatches by South Africa reached $517 thousand in 2024 (20 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Botswana (30%), Angola (25%), Namibia (16%).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $156K | 30% |
| Angola | $128K | 25% |
| Namibia | $84K | 16% |
| Zambia | $39K | 7.6% |
| Eswatini | $28K | 5.4% |
| Mauritius | $24K | 4.6% |
| Lesotho | $14K | 2.6% |
| Switzerland | $13K | 2.6% |
| United States | $10K | 1.9% |
| Denmark | $4K | 0.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa manual wristwatches imports (HS 9102.29): 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 9102.29: Wrist-watches: whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility, with other than automatic winding.
Common questions
What is the value of manual wristwatches imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported manual wristwatches worth $3.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4 tonnes. That ranks it 41st of 190 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 4% on 2023.
Which countries supply manual wristwatches to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 44% of the value ($1.5 million), followed by Switzerland (42%) and Thailand (6%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 47 supplier countries in total. The Philippines grew fastest among the top ten, up 968% on the year.
What is the average import price of manual wristwatches per kg?
The average declared import value was about $846.88 per kg in 2024, 17% above the world average of $721.02 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of manual wristwatches to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.5 million in 2017 to $3.4 million in 2024, a fall of 26%. The peak was 2022 at $5.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also export manual wristwatches?
Yes. South Africa exported $517 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, Angola and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for manual wristwatches?
The HS code for manual wristwatches is subheading 9102.29. It sits in HS chapter 91 (clocks and watches and parts thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 9102 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 manual wristwatches trade: top importers and exporters
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