Milled rice exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported milled rice worth $82.5 million (109.5 thousand tonnes). Value rose 41% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 9% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $82.5M | 109.5K t |
| 2023 | $58.6M | 78.5K t |
| 2022 | $63.1M | 72.6K t |
| 2021 | $43.4M | 51.6K t |
| 2020 | $48.7M | 79.4K t |
| 2019 | $46.4M | 75.6K t |
| 2018 | $48.9M | 72.7K t |
| 2017 | $44.5M | 73.4K t |
Where South Africa exports milled rice to
Botswana alone took 52% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Eswatini grew fastest (+770% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $43.3M | 52% |
| Eswatini | $17.1M | 21% |
| Zimbabwe | $6.6M | 8% |
| Lesotho | $6.2M | 7.6% |
| Namibia | $4.9M | 5.9% |
| Zambia | $2.2M | 2.7% |
| Mozambique | $1.4M | 1.7% |
| DR Congo | $497K | 0.6% |
| United States | $91K | 0.1% |
| Malawi | $56K | 0.1% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.75 per kg, close to the world average of $0.71.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Milled rice imports to South Africa
Imports of milled rice by South Africa reached $629.5 million in 2024 (1.05 million tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. One supplier dominates: Thailand accounted for 77% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $484.4M | 77% |
| India | $124.4M | 20% |
| Vietnam | $7.7M | 1.2% |
| Pakistan | $6.9M | 1.1% |
| United Kingdom | $1.7M | 0.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $1.1M | 0.2% |
| Taiwan | $663K | 0.1% |
| Brazil | $565K | 0.1% |
| Italy | $451K | 0.1% |
| Australia | $301K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa milled rice exports (HS 1006.30): 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 1006.30: Cereals: rice, semi-milled or wholly milled, whether or not polished or glazed.
Common questions
What is the value of milled rice exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported milled rice worth $82.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 109.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 23rd of 166 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 41% on 2023.
Which countries buy milled rice from South Africa?
Botswana was the largest buyer with 52% of the value ($43.3 million), followed by Eswatini (21%) and Zimbabwe (8%). The top three together account for 81%, out of 38 buyer countries in total. Eswatini grew fastest among the top ten, up 770% on the year.
What is the average export price of milled rice per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.75 per kg in 2024, 6% above the world average of $0.71 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have exports of milled rice from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $44.5 million in 2017 to $82.5 million in 2024, an increase of 85%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $54.5 million a year.
Does South Africa also import milled rice?
Yes. South Africa imported $629.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Thailand, India and Vietnam. That compares with exports of $82.5 million in the same year.
What is the HS code for milled rice?
The HS code for milled rice is subheading 1006.30. It sits in HS chapter 10 (cereals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1006 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
More trade data for South Africa
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