Railway rail imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of railway rail by South Africa reached $41.5 million in 2024 (30.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value rose 204% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 28% a year on average.
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 | $41.5M | 30.6K t |
| 2023 | $13.6M | 7.1K t |
| 2022 | $10.5M | 10.0K t |
| 2021 | $25.3M | 27.4K t |
| 2020 | $1.2M | 1.4K t |
| 2019 | $13.4M | 12.7K t |
| 2018 | $22.1M | 24.5K t |
| 2017 | $7.6M | 10.6K t |
Where South Africa imports railway rail from
One supplier dominates: France accounted for 76% of the value. Among the main suppliers, France grew fastest (+357% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| France | $31.6M | 76% |
| Austria | $5.5M | 13% |
| China | $3.1M | 7.6% |
| Australia | $389K | 0.9% |
| Luxembourg | $337K | 0.8% |
| Portugal | $187K | 0.5% |
| Czech Republic | $162K | 0.4% |
| Belgium | $72K | 0.2% |
| Germany | $48K | 0.1% |
| Turkey | $48K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.36 per kg, close to the world average of $1.15.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Railway rail exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $2.9 million of railway rail in 2024 (1.2 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Zimbabwe (48%), Mozambique (17%), Eswatini (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Eswatini grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $1.4M | 48% |
| Mozambique | $501K | 17% |
| Eswatini | $223K | 7.7% |
| Zambia | $209K | 7.2% |
| Namibia | $157K | 5.4% |
| DR Congo | $96K | 3.3% |
| Botswana | $71K | 2.5% |
| Malawi | $55K | 1.9% |
| Ghana | $51K | 1.8% |
| Uganda | $25K | 0.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa railway rail imports (HS 7302.10): 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 7302.10: Iron or steel, railway or tramway track construction material: rails.
Common questions
What is the value of railway rail imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported railway rail worth $41.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 30.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 21st of 189 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 204% on 2023.
Which countries supply railway rail to South Africa?
France was the largest supplier with 76% of the value ($31.6 million), followed by Austria (13%) and China (8%). The top three together account for 97%, out of 22 supplier countries in total. The Czech Republic grew fastest among the top ten, up 575% on the year.
What is the average import price of railway rail per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.36 per kg in 2024, 18% above the world average of $1.15 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 rail to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $7.6 million in 2017 to $41.5 million in 2024, an increase of 450%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $16.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export railway rail?
Yes. South Africa exported $2.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $38.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for railway rail?
The HS code for railway rail is subheading 7302.10. It sits in HS chapter 73 (iron or steel articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7302 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.
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