Railway air brakes imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $5.5 million of railway air brakes in 2024 (430 tonnes). Value rose 16% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $8.2 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 | $5.5M | 430 t |
| 2023 | $4.7M | 299 t |
| 2022 | $3.3M | 377 t |
| 2021 | $5.8M | 624 t |
| 2020 | $6.3M | 581 t |
| 2019 | $8.2M | 1.5K t |
| 2018 | $5.3M | 978 t |
| 2017 | $5.4M | 841 t |
Where South Africa imports railway air brakes from
Most of the value came from United States (24%), China (22%), North Macedonia (17%). Among the main suppliers, Czech Republic grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.3M | 24% |
| China | $1.2M | 22% |
| North Macedonia | $932K | 17% |
| Italy | $465K | 8.5% |
| Germany | $380K | 6.9% |
| Czech Republic | $261K | 4.8% |
| Hungary | $182K | 3.3% |
| Turkey | $166K | 3% |
| Austria | $126K | 2.3% |
| New Zealand | $101K | 1.8% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $12.76 per kg, close to the world average of $11.57.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Railway air brakes exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported railway air brakes worth $717 thousand (51 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: India accounted for 80% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest (+897% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $572K | 80% |
| China | $37K | 5.2% |
| DR Congo | $31K | 4.3% |
| United States | $21K | 2.9% |
| Mozambique | $19K | 2.7% |
| Zambia | $14K | 1.9% |
| Angola | $7K | 1% |
| Zimbabwe | $6K | 0.9% |
| Germany | $4K | 0.6% |
| Canada | $2K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa railway air brakes imports (HS 8607.21): 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 8607.21: Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, air brakes and parts thereof.
Common questions
What is the value of railway air brakes imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported railway air brakes worth $5.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 430 tonnes. That ranks it 36th of 150 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 16% on 2023.
Which countries supply railway air brakes to South Africa?
The United States was the largest supplier with 24% of the value ($1.3 million), followed by China (22%) and North Macedonia (17%). The top three together account for 63%, out of 29 supplier countries in total. Hungary grew fastest among the top ten, up 367% on the year.
What is the average import price of railway air brakes per kg?
The average declared import value was about $12.76 per kg in 2024, 10% above the world average of $11.57 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of railway air brakes to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.4 million in 2017 to $5.5 million in 2024, an increase of 2%. The peak was 2019 at $8.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $5.6 million a year.
Does South Africa also export railway air brakes?
Yes. South Africa exported $717 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to India, China and the DR Congo. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $4.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for railway air brakes?
The HS code for railway air brakes is subheading 8607.21. It sits in HS chapter 86 (railway, tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8607 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
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