Plastic-coated steel sheet imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $84.3 million of plastic-coated steel sheet in 2024 (80.9 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 27% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $114.9 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 | $84.3M | 80.9K t |
| 2023 | $66.5M | 55.9K t |
| 2022 | $85.3M | 62.4K t |
| 2021 | $114.9M | 91.7K t |
| 2020 | $52.7M | 50.6K t |
| 2019 | $54.6M | 51.2K t |
| 2018 | $64.1M | 60.7K t |
| 2017 | $49.3M | 50.1K t |
Where South Africa imports plastic-coated steel sheet from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 74% of the value. Among the main suppliers, South Korea grew fastest (+60% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $62.0M | 74% |
| Malaysia | $11.3M | 14% |
| South Korea | $7.2M | 8.5% |
| France | $1.3M | 1.5% |
| Italy | $924K | 1.1% |
| Canada | $757K | 0.9% |
| Singapore | $386K | 0.5% |
| Portugal | $305K | 0.4% |
| Belgium | $63K | 0.1% |
| Greece | $56K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.04 per kg, close to the world average of $1.08.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Plastic-coated steel sheet exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported plastic-coated steel sheet worth $42.4 million (28.7 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Zimbabwe (49%), Tanzania (29%), Zambia (15%).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $20.6M | 49% |
| Tanzania | $12.2M | 29% |
| Zambia | $6.2M | 15% |
| Mozambique | $1.3M | 3.1% |
| Botswana | $498K | 1.2% |
| Egypt | $343K | 0.8% |
| DR Congo | $325K | 0.8% |
| Namibia | $308K | 0.7% |
| Malawi | $214K | 0.5% |
| Seychelles | $134K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa plastic-coated steel sheet imports (HS 7210.70): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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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 7210.70: Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plastics.
Common questions
What is the value of plastic-coated steel sheet imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported plastic-coated steel sheet worth $84.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 80.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 45th of 209 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 27% on 2023.
Which countries supply plastic-coated steel sheet to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 74% of the value ($62.0 million), followed by Malaysia (13%) and South Korea (8%). The top three together account for 95%, out of 22 supplier countries in total. Italy grew fastest among the top ten, up 83% on the year.
What is the average import price of plastic-coated steel sheet per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.04 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.08 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of plastic-coated steel sheet to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $49.3 million in 2017 to $84.3 million in 2024, an increase of 71%. The peak was 2021 at $114.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $71.5 million a year.
Does South Africa also export plastic-coated steel sheet?
Yes. South Africa exported $42.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $41.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for plastic-coated steel sheet?
The HS code for plastic-coated steel sheet is subheading 7210.70. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7210 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 steel sheet trade: top importers and exporters
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