Mobile phones imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of mobile phones by South Africa reached $1.98 billion in 2024 (647 tonnes). That is 5% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 8% a year on average.
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 | $1.98B | 647 t |
| 2023 | $1.88B | 4.8K t |
| 2022 | $2.18B | 4.1K t |
| 2021 | $1.64B | 2.7K t |
| 2020 | $933.8M | 1.6K t |
| 2019 | $1.16B | 1.9K t |
| 2018 | $1.29B | 2.0K t |
| 2017 | $1.14B | 2.2K t |
Where South Africa imports mobile phones from
China alone supplied 74% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.46B | 74% |
| Vietnam | $264.6M | 13% |
| India | $205.9M | 10% |
| Germany | $14.8M | 0.7% |
| Indonesia | $10.7M | 0.5% |
| United States | $7.0M | 0.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | $4.2M | 0.2% |
| South Korea | $2.9M | 0.2% |
| United Kingdom | $2.5M | 0.1% |
| Netherlands | $2.2M | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3,066.12 per kg, 855% above the world average of $321.06. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Mobile phones exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported mobile phones worth $122.2 million (279 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Namibia (41%), Botswana (19%), United Arab Emirates (12%). Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+503% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $49.8M | 41% |
| Botswana | $23.7M | 19% |
| United Arab Emirates | $14.8M | 12% |
| Eswatini | $6.2M | 5.1% |
| Netherlands | $5.2M | 4.3% |
| Lesotho | $5.2M | 4.2% |
| France | $4.4M | 3.6% |
| Zimbabwe | $3.6M | 2.9% |
| Zambia | $2.6M | 2.1% |
| Mozambique | $1.3M | 1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa mobile phones imports (HS 8517.12): 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 8517.12: Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.
Common questions
What is the value of mobile phones imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported mobile phones worth $1.98 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 647 tonnes. That ranks it 34th of 220 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply mobile phones to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 74% of the value ($1.46 billion), followed by Vietnam (13%) and India (10%). The top three together account for 97%, out of 100 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 88% on the year.
What is the average import price of mobile phones per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3,066.12 per kg in 2024, 855% above the world average of $321.06 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of mobile phones to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.14 billion in 2017 to $1.98 billion in 2024, an increase of 75%. The peak was 2022 at $2.18 billion. Over 8 years the average was $1.52 billion a year.
Does South Africa also export mobile phones?
Yes. South Africa exported $122.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Botswana and the United Arab Emirates. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.86 billion a year.
What is the HS code for mobile phones?
The HS code for mobile phones is subheading 8517.12. 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 8517 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
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.