Memory chips imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $12.1 million of memory chips in 2024 (5 tonnes). That is close to the 2023 level. 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 | $12.1M | 5 t |
| 2023 | $12.2M | 7 t |
| 2022 | $13.4M | 7 t |
| 2021 | $11.2M | 7 t |
| 2020 | $8.4M | 60 t |
| 2019 | $8.9M | 7 t |
| 2018 | $14.0M | 88 t |
| 2017 | $11.2M | 10 t |
Where South Africa imports memory chips from
Most of the value came from China (31%), Belgium (15%), Taiwan (13%). Among the main suppliers, Belgium grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.8M | 31% |
| Belgium | $1.8M | 15% |
| Taiwan | $1.6M | 14% |
| Thailand | $1.4M | 12% |
| South Korea | $850K | 7% |
| United States | $609K | 5% |
| Malaysia | $576K | 4.7% |
| Germany | $349K | 2.9% |
| United Kingdom | $297K | 2.4% |
| Philippines | $279K | 2.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2,529.71 per kg, 53% below the world average of $5,353.00, 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.
Memory chips exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $815 thousand of memory chips in 2024 (1 tonnes). United Arab Emirates alone took 71% of it. Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+252% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | $575K | 71% |
| Netherlands | $76K | 9.4% |
| Saudi Arabia | $20K | 2.4% |
| South Korea | $15K | 1.9% |
| Germany | $13K | 1.6% |
| Czech Republic | $13K | 1.6% |
| United Kingdom | $11K | 1.3% |
| Egypt | $9K | 1.1% |
| Namibia | $9K | 1.1% |
| United States | $6K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa memory chips imports (HS 8542.32): 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 8542.32: Electronic integrated circuits: memories.
Common questions
What is the value of memory chips imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported memory chips worth $12.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 5 tonnes. That ranks it 51st of 198 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply memory chips to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 31% of the value ($3.8 million), followed by Belgium (15%) and Taiwan (13%). The top three together account for 59%, out of 46 supplier countries in total. Malaysia grew fastest among the top ten, up 672% on the year.
What is the average import price of memory chips per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2,529.71 per kg in 2024, 53% below the world average of $5,353.00 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of memory chips to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $11.2 million in 2017 to $12.1 million in 2024, an increase of 8%. The peak was 2018 at $14.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $11.4 million a year.
Does South Africa also export memory chips?
Yes. South Africa exported $815 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $11.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for memory chips?
The HS code for memory chips is subheading 8542.32. 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 8542 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.
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