Railway parts imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported railway parts worth $84.2 million (20.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value rose 5% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2017, at $116.0 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 | $84.2M | 20.8K t |
| 2023 | $79.8M | 14.4K t |
| 2022 | $66.4M | 15.3K t |
| 2021 | $69.8M | 16.5K t |
| 2020 | $57.2M | 18.7K t |
| 2019 | $84.1M | 15.9K t |
| 2018 | $101.8M | 16.5K t |
| 2017 | $116.0M | 24.3K t |
Where South Africa imports railway parts from
The largest suppliers were Italy (29%), China (26%), United States (12%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+375% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $24.7M | 29% |
| China | $22.0M | 26% |
| United States | $9.8M | 12% |
| Germany | $6.0M | 7.2% |
| Brazil | $3.8M | 4.5% |
| India | $2.9M | 3.5% |
| France | $2.5M | 2.9% |
| North Macedonia | $1.5M | 1.7% |
| Canada | $1.2M | 1.5% |
| Czech Republic | $1.2M | 1.4% |
Product types under HS 8607
| 8607.19 | Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, axles and wheels, and parts thereof | 43% |
| 8607.29 | Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, brakes (other than air brakes) and parts thereof | 17% |
| 8607.99 | Railway or tramway rolling stock: parts n.e.c. in heading no. 8607 | 15% |
| 8607.91 | Railway or tramway locomotives: parts n.e.c. in heading no. 8607 | 13% |
| 8607.21 | Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, air brakes and parts thereof | 6.5% |
| 8607.30 | Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, hooks and other coupling devices, buffers and parts thereof | 3.9% |
| 8607.12 | Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, bogies and bissel-bogies (excluding driving bogies and bissel-bogies) | 2.7% |
| 8607.11 | Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock: parts, driving bogies and bissel-bogies | 0.6% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8607.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.04 per kg, 38% below the world average of $6.50, 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.
Railway parts exports from South Africa
Exports of railway parts by South Africa reached $28.4 million in 2024 (2.9 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to China (15%), Mongolia (15%), Germany (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 39%. Among the main buyer markets, China grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $4.2M | 15% |
| Mongolia | $4.1M | 15% |
| Germany | $2.7M | 9.5% |
| United Kingdom | $2.5M | 8.9% |
| Mozambique | $2.0M | 7% |
| India | $1.7M | 6.2% |
| Nigeria | $1.2M | 4.3% |
| Zambia | $1.1M | 3.8% |
| Namibia | $965K | 3.4% |
| Zimbabwe | $931K | 3.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
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.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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: Railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock; parts thereof.
Common questions
What is the value of railway parts imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported railway parts worth $84.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 20.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 30th of 190 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply railway parts to South Africa?
Italy was the largest supplier with 29% of the value ($24.7 million), followed by China (26%) and the United States (12%). The top three together account for 67%, out of 53 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 375% on the year.
What is the average import price of railway parts per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.04 per kg in 2024, 38% below the world average of $6.50 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have imports of railway parts to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $116.0 million in 2017 to $84.2 million in 2024, a fall of 27%. The peak was 2017 at $116.0 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also export railway parts?
Yes. South Africa exported $28.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to China, Mongolia and Germany. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $55.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for railway parts?
The HS code for railway parts is heading 8607. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 8607.19 (42% of the value) and 8607.29 (17%). 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?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see the companies that ship to and from it. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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