Needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $2.5 million of needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric in 2024 (402 tonnes). Value rose 23% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $3.6 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 | $2.5M | 402 t |
| 2023 | $2.0M | 274 t |
| 2022 | $3.6M | 1.2K t |
| 2021 | $3.4M | 780 t |
| 2020 | $2.1M | 631 t |
| 2019 | $1.9M | 386 t |
| 2018 | $2.7M | 476 t |
| 2017 | $2.2M | 376 t |
Where South Africa imports needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric from
The largest suppliers were Germany (29%), China (24%), Denmark (16%). Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $727K | 29% |
| China | $590K | 24% |
| Denmark | $398K | 16% |
| Italy | $362K | 15% |
| India | $105K | 4.2% |
| United States | $96K | 3.9% |
| Belgium | $93K | 3.8% |
| United Kingdom | $49K | 2% |
| France | $22K | 0.9% |
| Brazil | $8K | 0.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.15 per kg, 38% above the world average of $4.45. 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.
Needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $658 thousand of needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric in 2024 (233 tonnes). Most of it went to Namibia (28%), DR Congo (22%), Tanzania (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Mauritius grew fastest (+530% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $185K | 28% |
| DR Congo | $146K | 22% |
| Tanzania | $84K | 13% |
| Mozambique | $49K | 7.5% |
| Zimbabwe | $40K | 6.1% |
| Mauritius | $35K | 5.4% |
| Kenya | $32K | 4.9% |
| Botswana | $26K | 3.9% |
| Malawi | $17K | 2.6% |
| Germany | $16K | 2.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric imports (HS 5602.10): 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 5602.10: Felt: needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fibre fabrics, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated.
Common questions
What is the value of needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric worth $2.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 402 tonnes. That ranks it 52nd of 190 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 23% on 2023.
Which countries supply needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric to South Africa?
Germany was the largest supplier with 29% of the value ($727 thousand), followed by China (24%) and Denmark (16%). The top three together account for 69%, out of 23 supplier countries in total. Denmark grew fastest among the top ten, up 594% on the year.
What is the average import price of needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.15 per kg in 2024, 38% above the world average of $4.45 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.2 million in 2017 to $2.5 million in 2024, an increase of 13%. The peak was 2022 at $3.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.5 million a year.
Does South Africa also export needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric?
Yes. South Africa exported $658 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, the DR Congo and Tanzania. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric?
The HS code for needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric is subheading 5602.10. 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 5602 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 needleloom felt and stitch-bonded fabric trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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