Medium nonwoven natural fabric imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of medium nonwoven natural fabric by South Africa reached $14.3 million in 2024 (4.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 44% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $27.3 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 | $14.3M | 4.6K t |
| 2023 | $25.4M | 5.4K t |
| 2022 | $27.3M | 5.3K t |
| 2021 | $20.9M | 5.8K t |
| 2020 | $24.3M | 4.9K t |
| 2019 | $17.4M | 4.2K t |
| 2018 | $18.3M | 3.8K t |
| 2017 | $15.9M | 3.1K t |
Where South Africa imports medium nonwoven natural fabric from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 58% of the value. Among the main suppliers, France grew fastest (+33% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $8.2M | 58% |
| Czech Republic | $3.9M | 27% |
| France | $728K | 5.1% |
| Germany | $389K | 2.7% |
| United States | $300K | 2.1% |
| Taiwan | $288K | 2% |
| Italy | $174K | 1.2% |
| Netherlands | $127K | 0.9% |
| Spain | $99K | 0.7% |
| Turkey | $26K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.11 per kg, close to the world average of $3.64.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Medium nonwoven natural fabric exports from South Africa
Exports of medium nonwoven natural fabric by South Africa reached $344 thousand in 2024 (126 tonnes). Most of it went to Mozambique (21%), Eswatini (19%), Zimbabwe (19%). Among the main buyer markets, Lesotho grew fastest (+101% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | $71K | 21% |
| Eswatini | $66K | 19% |
| Zimbabwe | $65K | 19% |
| Zambia | $55K | 16% |
| Botswana | $29K | 8.5% |
| Namibia | $18K | 5.3% |
| Taiwan | $11K | 3.1% |
| Lesotho | $9K | 2.7% |
| Saudi Arabia | $8K | 2.3% |
| Madagascar | $5K | 1.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa medium nonwoven natural fabric imports (HS 5603.92): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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.
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 5603.92: Nonwovens: whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments, (weighing more than 25g/m2 but not more than 70g/m2).
Common questions
What is the value of medium nonwoven natural fabric imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported medium nonwoven natural fabric worth $14.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 34th of 193 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 44% on 2023.
Which countries supply medium nonwoven natural fabric to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 58% of the value ($8.2 million), followed by the Czech Republic (27%) and France (5%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 20 supplier countries in total. Spain grew fastest among the top ten, up 79% on the year.
What is the average import price of medium nonwoven natural fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.11 per kg in 2024, 15% below the world average of $3.64 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of medium nonwoven natural fabric to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $15.9 million in 2017 to $14.3 million in 2024, a fall of 10%. The peak was 2022 at $27.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $20.5 million a year.
Does South Africa also export medium nonwoven natural fabric?
Yes. South Africa exported $344 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mozambique, Eswatini and Zimbabwe. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $13.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for medium nonwoven natural fabric?
The HS code for medium nonwoven natural fabric is subheading 5603.92. It sits in HS chapter 56 (wadding, felt and nonwovens, special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5603 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 medium nonwoven natural fabric trade: top importers and exporters
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.