Petrol cars <1000cc exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of petrol cars <1000cc by South Africa reached $2.27 billion in 2024 (178.2 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 8th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 156 countries. That is 27% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 34% 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 | $2.27B | 178.2K t |
| 2023 | $1.79B | 142.9K t |
| 2022 | $1.58B | 133.8K t |
| 2021 | $1.47B | 117.3K t |
| 2020 | $1.28B | 114.4K t |
| 2019 | $1.57B | 144.1K t |
| 2018 | $1.15B | 99.5K t |
| 2017 | $290.4M | 27.6K t |
Where South Africa exports petrol cars <1000cc to
Germany alone took 63% of it. Among the main buyer markets, United Kingdom grew fastest (+123% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $1.43B | 63% |
| United Kingdom | $522.8M | 23% |
| Turkey | $71.7M | 3.2% |
| Austria | $60.2M | 2.7% |
| Japan | $58.1M | 2.6% |
| Switzerland | $30.0M | 1.3% |
| Australia | $20.3M | 0.9% |
| Czech Republic | $13.9M | 0.6% |
| Taiwan | $10.6M | 0.5% |
| Zimbabwe | $6.7M | 0.3% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $12.75 per kg, close to the world average of $12.42.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Petrol cars <1000cc imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $379.6 million of petrol cars <1000cc in 2024 (31.4 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. One supplier dominates: India accounted for 72% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $271.9M | 72% |
| Spain | $76.8M | 20% |
| Romania | $12.5M | 3.3% |
| South Korea | $9.9M | 2.6% |
| China | $3.6M | 1% |
| United States | $1.3M | 0.4% |
| Taiwan | $1.1M | 0.3% |
| Japan | $722K | 0.2% |
| Mexico | $720K | 0.2% |
| Germany | $450K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa petrol cars <1000cc exports (HS 8703.21): 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 8703.21: Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity not over 1000cc.
Common questions
What is the value of petrol cars <1000cc exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported petrol cars <1000cc worth $2.27 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 178.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 8th of 156 countries worldwide, with 4% of world exports. The value was up 27% on 2023.
Which countries buy petrol cars <1000cc from South Africa?
Germany was the largest buyer with 63% of the value ($1.43 billion), followed by the United Kingdom (23%) and Turkey (3%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 48 buyer countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 123% on the year.
What is the average export price of petrol cars <1000cc per kg?
The average declared export value was about $12.75 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $12.42 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of petrol cars <1000cc from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $290.4 million in 2017 to $2.27 billion in 2024, an increase of 682%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $1.42 billion a year.
Does South Africa also import petrol cars <1000cc?
Yes. South Africa imported $379.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from India, Spain and Romania. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $1.89 billion a year.
What is the HS code for petrol cars <1000cc?
The HS code for petrol cars <1000cc is subheading 8703.21. It sits in HS chapter 87 (vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8703 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
World petrol cars <1000cc trade: top importers and exporters
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