Oxygenated carboxylic acid imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported oxygenated carboxylic acid worth $64.3 million (44.0 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value rose 21% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $95.2 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 | $64.3M | 44.0K t |
| 2023 | $53.3M | 34.7K t |
| 2022 | $95.2M | 41.2K t |
| 2021 | $55.6M | 34.0K t |
| 2020 | $44.2M | 31.6K t |
| 2019 | $46.6M | 32.1K t |
| 2018 | $52.6M | 34.7K t |
| 2017 | $52.7M | 35.1K t |
Where South Africa imports oxygenated carboxylic acid from
Most of the value came from China (48%), Austria (9%), Eswatini (8%). Among the main suppliers, Eswatini grew fastest (+145% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $31.1M | 48% |
| Austria | $5.6M | 8.6% |
| Eswatini | $5.0M | 7.7% |
| Italy | $3.3M | 5.1% |
| Germany | $3.2M | 5% |
| Spain | $3.0M | 4.7% |
| Turkey | $2.8M | 4.4% |
| India | $1.3M | 2.1% |
| France | $1.0M | 1.6% |
| United Kingdom | $962K | 1.5% |
Product types under HS 2918
| 2918.14 | Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), citric acid | 40% |
| 2918.15 | Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), salts and esters of citric acid | 14% |
| 2918.11 | Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), lactic acid, its salts and esters | 12% |
| 2918.12 | Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), tartaric acid | 7.9% |
| 2918.99 | Acids: carboxylic acids, with additional oxygen function (not alcohol, phenol, aldehyde or ketone) and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and… | 5.5% |
| 2918.19 | Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), other than lactic, tartaric, citric, and gluconic acids and their… | 4.5% |
| 2918.16 | Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), gluconic acid, its salts and esters | 4.2% |
| 2918.29 | Acids: carboxylic acids, (with phenol function but without other oxygen function), their anhydrides, halides, peroxides, peroxyacids and their… | 3.6% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2918.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.46 per kg, 39% below the world average of $2.38, 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.
Oxygenated carboxylic acid exports from South Africa
Exports of oxygenated carboxylic acid by South Africa reached $20.2 million in 2024 (9.8 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Germany (16%), United Kingdom (12%), Eswatini (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 36%. Among the main buyer markets, Zimbabwe grew fastest (+98% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $3.2M | 16% |
| United Kingdom | $2.5M | 13% |
| Eswatini | $1.5M | 7.6% |
| Japan | $1.2M | 6.1% |
| Zambia | $1.1M | 5.2% |
| Brazil | $1.0M | 5.2% |
| Uruguay | $968K | 4.8% |
| Ireland | $694K | 3.4% |
| Zimbabwe | $621K | 3.1% |
| India | $615K | 3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 2918: Acids; carboxylic acid with additional oxygen function and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides, peroxyacids; their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives.
Common questions
What is the value of oxygenated carboxylic acid imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported oxygenated carboxylic acid worth $64.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 44.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 34th of 216 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 21% on 2023.
Which countries supply oxygenated carboxylic acid to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 48% of the value ($31.1 million), followed by Austria (9%) and Eswatini (8%). The top three together account for 65%, out of 45 supplier countries in total. Eswatini grew fastest among the top ten, up 145% on the year.
What is the average import price of oxygenated carboxylic acid per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.46 per kg in 2024, 39% below the world average of $2.38 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have imports of oxygenated carboxylic acid to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $52.7 million in 2017 to $64.3 million in 2024, an increase of 22%. The peak was 2022 at $95.2 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also export oxygenated carboxylic acid?
Yes. South Africa exported $20.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Germany, the United Kingdom and Eswatini. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $44.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for oxygenated carboxylic acid?
The HS code for oxygenated carboxylic acid is heading 2918. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 2918.14 (40% of the value) and 2918.15 (14%). It sits in HS chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2918 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
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