Safety pins imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported safety pins worth $2.1 million (217 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 29% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2023, at $3.0 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 | $2.1M | 217 t |
| 2023 | $3.0M | 265 t |
| 2022 | $2.3M | 221 t |
| 2021 | $2.7M | 219 t |
| 2020 | $2.0M | 190 t |
| 2019 | $2.5M | 242 t |
| 2018 | $2.5M | 227 t |
| 2017 | $1.9M | 164 t |
Where South Africa imports safety pins from
Thailand alone supplied 61% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $1.3M | 61% |
| China | $413K | 20% |
| United States | $189K | 9% |
| Japan | $116K | 5.5% |
| Taiwan | $32K | 1.5% |
| Zambia | $19K | 0.9% |
| Malaysia | $10K | 0.5% |
| France | $9K | 0.4% |
| United Kingdom | $6K | 0.3% |
| Turkey | $4K | 0.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $9.67 per kg, close to the world average of $8.28.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Safety pins exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported safety pins worth $769 thousand (67 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Zimbabwe alone took 62% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Zambia grew fastest (+311% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $473K | 62% |
| Zambia | $72K | 9.4% |
| Namibia | $67K | 8.7% |
| Nigeria | $33K | 4.3% |
| DR Congo | $27K | 3.6% |
| Botswana | $21K | 2.7% |
| Lesotho | $14K | 1.8% |
| Eswatini | $13K | 1.7% |
| Tanzania | $11K | 1.4% |
| Malawi | $8K | 1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa safety pins imports (HS 7319.40): 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 7319.40: Safety pins and other pins: of iron or steel.
Common questions
What is the value of safety pins imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported safety pins worth $2.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 217 tonnes. That ranks it 20th of 204 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 29% on 2023.
Which countries supply safety pins to South Africa?
Thailand was the largest supplier with 61% of the value ($1.3 million), followed by China (20%) and the United States (9%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 38 supplier countries in total. France grew fastest among the top ten, up 25% on the year.
What is the average import price of safety pins per kg?
The average declared import value was about $9.67 per kg in 2024, 17% above the world average of $8.28 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of safety pins to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.9 million in 2017 to $2.1 million in 2024, an increase of 10%. The peak was 2023 at $3.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.4 million a year.
Does South Africa also export safety pins?
Yes. South Africa exported $769 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for safety pins?
The HS code for safety pins is subheading 7319.40. It sits in HS chapter 73 (iron or steel articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7319 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
More trade data for South Africa
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