Plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $45.4 million of plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) in 2024 (25.5 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 31% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $45.4M | 25.5K t |
| 2023 | $34.5M | 18.5K t |
| 2022 | $47.5M | 27.2K t |
| 2021 | $36.8M | 22.9K t |
| 2020 | $35.0M | 16.3K t |
| 2019 | $36.8M | 19.5K t |
| 2018 | $35.6M | 20.5K t |
| 2017 | $34.6M | 19.2K t |
Where South Africa imports plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) from
The largest suppliers were Finland (35%), China (26%), United States (17%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+203% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | $15.9M | 35% |
| China | $11.6M | 26% |
| United States | $7.6M | 17% |
| Netherlands | $4.3M | 9.4% |
| India | $2.7M | 5.9% |
| Germany | $1.2M | 2.6% |
| Turkey | $746K | 1.6% |
| Sweden | $575K | 1.3% |
| Italy | $305K | 0.7% |
| Malaysia | $195K | 0.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.78 per kg, close to the world average of $2.10.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) imports (HS 4811.51): 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 4811.51: Paper and paperboard: coated, impregnated or covered with plastics (excluding adhesives), bleached, weighing more than 150g/m2, other than goods of heading no. 4803, 4809, or 4810.
Common questions
What is the value of plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) worth $45.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 25.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 23rd of 196 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 31% on 2023.
Which countries supply plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) to South Africa?
Finland was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($15.9 million), followed by China (26%) and the United States (17%). The top three together account for 77%, out of 19 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 203% on the year.
What is the average import price of plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.78 per kg in 2024, 15% below the world average of $2.10 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $34.6 million in 2017 to $45.4 million in 2024, an increase of 31%. The peak was 2022 at $47.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $38.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached)?
The HS code for plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) is subheading 4811.51. It sits in HS chapter 48 (paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or paperboard). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 4811 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 plastic-coated paper (heavy, bleached) trade: top importers and exporters
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.