Prepared ham exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of prepared ham by South Africa reached $2.8 million in 2024 (569 tonnes). Value fell 3% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $2.8M | 569 t |
| 2023 | $2.9M | 647 t |
| 2022 | $2.2M | 480 t |
| 2021 | $2.1M | 469 t |
| 2020 | $1.4M | 422 t |
| 2019 | $1.1M | 503 t |
| 2018 | $1.1M | 278 t |
| 2017 | $1.7M | 614 t |
Where South Africa exports prepared ham to
The largest buyer markets were Namibia (50%), Eswatini (16%), Lesotho (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Seychelles grew fastest (+47% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $1.4M | 50% |
| Eswatini | $446K | 16% |
| Lesotho | $436K | 16% |
| Seychelles | $173K | 6.2% |
| DR Congo | $154K | 5.5% |
| Mozambique | $130K | 4.7% |
| Ghana | $22K | 0.8% |
| Malawi | $13K | 0.5% |
| Zambia | $11K | 0.4% |
| Botswana | $4K | 0.1% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.88 per kg, 27% below the world average of $6.72, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Prepared ham imports to South Africa
Imports of prepared ham by South Africa reached $561 thousand in 2024 (63 tonnes). One supplier dominates: Italy accounted for 51% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $286K | 51% |
| Denmark | $248K | 44% |
| South Korea | $10K | 1.8% |
| Namibia | $7K | 1.3% |
| Germany | $5K | 0.9% |
| Portugal | $2K | 0.3% |
| Spain | $2K | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | $0K | 0.1% |
| Norway | $0K | 0% |
| Angola | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa prepared ham exports (HS 1602.41): 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 1602.41: Meat preparations: of swine, hams and cuts thereof, prepared or preserved (excluding homogenised preparations).
Common questions
What is the value of prepared ham exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported prepared ham worth $2.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 569 tonnes. That ranks it 22nd of 105 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was down 3% on 2023.
Which countries buy prepared ham from South Africa?
Namibia was the largest buyer with 50% of the value ($1.4 million), followed by Eswatini (16%) and Lesotho (16%). The top three together account for 82%, out of 18 buyer countries in total. Ghana grew fastest among the top ten, up 61% on the year.
What is the average export price of prepared ham per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.88 per kg in 2024, 27% below the world average of $6.72 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of prepared ham from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $1.7 million in 2017 to $2.8 million in 2024, an increase of 65%. The peak was 2023 at $2.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $1.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also import prepared ham?
Yes. South Africa imported $561 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Italy, Denmark and South Korea. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $2.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for prepared ham?
The HS code for prepared ham is subheading 1602.41. It sits in HS chapter 16 (meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or insects; preparations thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1602 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.
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