Reconstituted tobacco imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $3.7 million of reconstituted tobacco in 2024 (150 tonnes). That is 51% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $5.1 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 | $3.7M | 151 t |
| 2023 | $2.5M | 125 t |
| 2022 | $2.8M | 148 t |
| 2021 | $788K | 211 t |
| 2020 | $421K | 117 t |
| 2019 | $1.4M | 417 t |
| 2018 | $5.1M | 1.2K t |
| 2017 | $4.3M | 1.2K t |
Where South Africa imports reconstituted tobacco from
One supplier dominates: Romania accounted for 69% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Romania grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | $2.6M | 69% |
| Italy | $907K | 25% |
| Germany | $97K | 2.6% |
| Greece | $94K | 2.5% |
| Netherlands | $36K | 1% |
| Indonesia | $3K | 0.1% |
| Malaysia | $0K | 0% |
| Poland | $0K | 0% |
| United States | $0K | 0% |
| Namibia | $0K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $24.54 per kg, close to the world average of $27.18.
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 reconstituted tobacco imports (HS 2403.91): 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 2403.91: Tobacco: homogenised or reconstituted.
Common questions
What is the value of reconstituted tobacco imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported reconstituted tobacco worth $3.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 150 tonnes. That ranks it 61st of 166 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 51% on 2023.
Which countries supply reconstituted tobacco to South Africa?
Romania was the largest supplier with 69% of the value ($2.6 million), followed by Italy (25%) and Germany (3%). The top three together account for 96%, out of 10 supplier countries in total. Malaysia grew fastest among the top ten, up 99% on the year.
What is the average import price of reconstituted tobacco per kg?
The average declared import value was about $24.54 per kg in 2024, 10% below the world average of $27.18 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of reconstituted tobacco to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.3 million in 2017 to $3.7 million in 2024, a fall of 15%. The peak was 2018 at $5.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for reconstituted tobacco?
The HS code for reconstituted tobacco is subheading 2403.91. It sits in HS chapter 24 (tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2403 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
World reconstituted tobacco trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
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