Plastic rope and cordage imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $2.5 million of plastic rope and cordage in 2024 (746 tonnes). That is 3% 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 | $2.5M | 746 t |
| 2023 | $2.4M | 687 t |
| 2022 | $1.8M | 548 t |
| 2021 | $2.2M | 667 t |
| 2020 | $1.6M | 542 t |
| 2019 | $2.4M | 932 t |
| 2018 | $3.0M | 881 t |
| 2017 | $2.3M | 873 t |
Where South Africa imports plastic rope and cordage from
Most of the value came from China (31%), India (18%), South Korea (12%). Among the main suppliers, Spain grew fastest (+55% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $784K | 32% |
| India | $459K | 19% |
| South Korea | $309K | 12% |
| Spain | $258K | 10% |
| Greece | $161K | 6.5% |
| Netherlands | $138K | 5.6% |
| United States | $66K | 2.7% |
| Taiwan | $57K | 2.3% |
| Mauritius | $45K | 1.8% |
| Ireland | $36K | 1.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.34 per kg, close to the world average of $3.18.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Plastic rope and cordage exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $1.4 million of plastic rope and cordage in 2024 (311 tonnes). Most of it went to Mozambique (28%), Australia (23%), New Zealand (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Indonesia grew fastest (+659% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | $380K | 28% |
| Australia | $322K | 24% |
| New Zealand | $113K | 8.3% |
| Namibia | $84K | 6.1% |
| Zimbabwe | $75K | 5.5% |
| Eswatini | $54K | 3.9% |
| Mauritius | $53K | 3.9% |
| Botswana | $48K | 3.5% |
| Zambia | $29K | 2.1% |
| Indonesia | $26K | 1.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa plastic rope and cordage imports (HS 5607.49): 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 5607.49: Twine, cordage, ropes, cables: of polyethylene or polypropylene (excluding binder or baler twine), whether or not plaited, braided or rubber or plastic impregnated, coated, covered or sheathed.
Common questions
What is the value of plastic rope and cordage imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported plastic rope and cordage worth $2.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 746 tonnes. That ranks it 69th of 217 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 3% on 2023.
Which countries supply plastic rope and cordage to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 31% of the value ($784 thousand), followed by India (18%) and South Korea (12%). The top three together account for 62%, out of 44 supplier countries in total. Ireland grew fastest among the top ten, up 217% on the year.
What is the average import price of plastic rope and cordage per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.34 per kg in 2024, 5% above the world average of $3.18 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of plastic rope and cordage to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.3 million in 2017 to $2.5 million in 2024, an increase of 9%. The peak was 2018 at $3.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.3 million a year.
Does South Africa also export plastic rope and cordage?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mozambique, Australia and New Zealand. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for plastic rope and cordage?
The HS code for plastic rope and cordage is subheading 5607.49. 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 5607 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 plastic rope and cordage trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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.