Retail adhesive imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $20.6 million of retail adhesive in 2024 (4.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 16% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $20.6M | 4.3K t |
| 2023 | $17.8M | 4.2K t |
| 2022 | $16.0M | 4.1K t |
| 2021 | $18.7M | 2.9K t |
| 2020 | $13.9M | 3.7K t |
| 2019 | $13.5M | 3.6K t |
| 2018 | $13.6M | 2.9K t |
| 2017 | $12.0M | 2.7K t |
Where South Africa imports retail adhesive from
Most of the value came from China (35%), Germany (24%), United States (9%). Among the main suppliers, Belgium grew fastest (+431% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $7.3M | 35% |
| Germany | $5.0M | 24% |
| United States | $1.9M | 9% |
| South Korea | $1.2M | 6% |
| Belgium | $1.1M | 5.2% |
| United Kingdom | $1.0M | 5% |
| Taiwan | $686K | 3.3% |
| Ireland | $357K | 1.7% |
| Netherlands | $288K | 1.4% |
| Switzerland | $281K | 1.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.83 per kg, 27% below the world average of $6.66, 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.
Retail adhesive exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported retail adhesive worth $5.3 million (5.3 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Namibia (12%), Zimbabwe (11%), United States (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 35%. Among the main buyer markets, Spain grew fastest (+186% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $658K | 12% |
| Zimbabwe | $607K | 11% |
| United States | $604K | 11% |
| Zambia | $506K | 9.5% |
| Lesotho | $497K | 9.3% |
| France | $391K | 7.3% |
| Botswana | $245K | 4.6% |
| Eswatini | $221K | 4.1% |
| Mozambique | $207K | 3.9% |
| Spain | $179K | 3.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa retail adhesive imports (HS 3506.10): 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 3506.10: Glues or adhesives: prepared, products suitable for use as glues or adhesives, put up for retail sale as glues or adhesives, not exceeding a net weight of 1kg.
Common questions
What is the value of retail adhesive imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported retail adhesive worth $20.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 45th of 223 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 16% on 2023.
Which countries supply retail adhesive to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($7.3 million), followed by Germany (24%) and the United States (9%). The top three together account for 69%, out of 59 supplier countries in total. Belgium grew fastest among the top ten, up 431% on the year.
What is the average import price of retail adhesive per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.83 per kg in 2024, 27% below the world average of $6.66 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of retail adhesive to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $12.0 million in 2017 to $20.6 million in 2024, an increase of 71%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $15.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also export retail adhesive?
Yes. South Africa exported $5.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Zimbabwe and the United States. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $15.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for retail adhesive?
The HS code for retail adhesive is subheading 3506.10. It sits in HS chapter 35 (albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3506 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for South Africa. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
More trade data for South Africa
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.