Prepared meals exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported prepared meals worth $2.3 million (899 tonnes). Value rose 8% on 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 | $2.3M | 899 t |
| 2023 | $2.2M | 758 t |
| 2022 | $2.2M | 701 t |
| 2021 | $2.7M | 868 t |
| 2020 | $2.1M | 799 t |
| 2019 | $1.2M | 548 t |
| 2018 | $1.3M | 1.1K t |
| 2017 | $1.4M | 713 t |
Where South Africa exports prepared meals to
The largest buyer markets were Namibia (28%), Malawi (17%), Zimbabwe (11%). Among the main buyer markets, New Zealand grew fastest (+358% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $645K | 28% |
| Malawi | $404K | 17% |
| Zimbabwe | $264K | 11% |
| Botswana | $203K | 8.7% |
| Mauritius | $168K | 7.2% |
| Republic of the Congo | $145K | 6.2% |
| Eswatini | $63K | 2.7% |
| DR Congo | $60K | 2.6% |
| Mozambique | $57K | 2.4% |
| New Zealand | $56K | 2.4% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.61 per kg, 31% below the world average of $3.76, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa prepared meals exports (HS 2104.20): 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 2104.20: Homogenised composite food preparations.
Common questions
What is the value of prepared meals exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported prepared meals worth $2.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 899 tonnes. That ranks it 33rd of 155 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 8% on 2023.
Which countries buy prepared meals from South Africa?
Namibia was the largest buyer with 28% of the value ($645 thousand), followed by Malawi (17%) and Zimbabwe (11%). The top three together account for 56%, out of 40 buyer countries in total. New Zealand grew fastest among the top ten, up 358% on the year.
What is the average export price of prepared meals per kg?
The average declared export value was about $2.61 per kg in 2024, 31% below the world average of $3.76 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 meals from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $1.4 million in 2017 to $2.3 million in 2024, an increase of 62%. The peak was 2021 at $2.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $1.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for prepared meals?
The HS code for prepared meals is subheading 2104.20. It sits in HS chapter 21 (miscellaneous edible preparations). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2104 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
More trade data for South Africa
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