Polyvinyl alcohol imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported polyvinyl alcohol worth $3.6 million (1.4 thousand tonnes). That is 41% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $5.4 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 | $3.6M | 1.4K t |
| 2023 | $2.6M | 1.0K t |
| 2022 | $5.4M | 1.5K t |
| 2021 | $4.2M | 1.6K t |
| 2020 | $3.3M | 1.5K t |
| 2019 | $3.4M | 1.4K t |
| 2018 | $3.3M | 1.4K t |
| 2017 | $4.4M | 2.1K t |
Where South Africa imports polyvinyl alcohol from
China alone supplied 53% of it. Among the main suppliers, Japan grew fastest (+574% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.9M | 53% |
| Japan | $561K | 15% |
| Taiwan | $472K | 13% |
| Italy | $330K | 9.1% |
| United States | $164K | 4.5% |
| Germany | $100K | 2.8% |
| Australia | $43K | 1.2% |
| Netherlands | $24K | 0.7% |
| Brazil | $12K | 0.3% |
| Singapore | $8K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.65 per kg, close to the world average of $2.71.
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 polyvinyl alcohol imports (HS 3905.30): 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 3905.30: Poly(vinyl alcohol): whether or not containing unhydrolysed acetate groups.
Common questions
What is the value of polyvinyl alcohol imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported polyvinyl alcohol worth $3.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 40th of 161 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 41% on 2023.
Which countries supply polyvinyl alcohol to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 53% of the value ($1.9 million), followed by Japan (15%) and Taiwan (13%). The top three together account for 81%, out of 19 supplier countries in total. Japan grew fastest among the top ten, up 574% on the year.
What is the average import price of polyvinyl alcohol per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.65 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $2.71 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of polyvinyl alcohol to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.4 million in 2017 to $3.6 million in 2024, a fall of 17%. The peak was 2022 at $5.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for polyvinyl alcohol?
The HS code for polyvinyl alcohol is subheading 3905.30. It sits in HS chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3905 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
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