Safety seat belts imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported safety seat belts worth $11.9 million (715 tonnes). Value fell 5% from 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 | $11.9M | 715 t |
| 2023 | $12.5M | 951 t |
| 2022 | $12.3M | 839 t |
| 2021 | $11.6M | 631 t |
| 2020 | $8.6M | 502 t |
| 2019 | $13.4M | 830 t |
| 2018 | $14.7M | 691 t |
| 2017 | $11.0M | 611 t |
Where South Africa imports safety seat belts from
Most of the value came from Germany (44%), Romania (26%), China (8%). Among the main suppliers, Mexico grew fastest (+94% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $5.3M | 44% |
| Romania | $3.1M | 26% |
| China | $985K | 8.2% |
| Thailand | $702K | 5.9% |
| Japan | $599K | 5% |
| Mexico | $302K | 2.5% |
| Poland | $163K | 1.4% |
| India | $154K | 1.3% |
| United Kingdom | $116K | 1% |
| Hungary | $110K | 0.9% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $16.71 per kg, close to the world average of $16.44.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Safety seat belts exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $946 thousand of safety seat belts in 2024 (48 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Australia (28%), Namibia (12%), Botswana (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 50%. Among the main buyer markets, United States grew fastest (+327% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | $264K | 28% |
| Namibia | $115K | 12% |
| Botswana | $90K | 9.6% |
| Mozambique | $61K | 6.4% |
| Belgium | $52K | 5.5% |
| Germany | $50K | 5.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $33K | 3.4% |
| DR Congo | $32K | 3.4% |
| United States | $29K | 3.1% |
| Zambia | $27K | 2.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa safety seat belts imports (HS 8708.21): 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 8708.21: Vehicles: parts of bodies, safety seat belts.
Common questions
What is the value of safety seat belts imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported safety seat belts worth $11.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 715 tonnes. That ranks it 33rd of 199 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply safety seat belts to South Africa?
Germany was the largest supplier with 44% of the value ($5.3 million), followed by Romania (26%) and China (8%). The top three together account for 79%, out of 47 supplier countries in total. Mexico grew fastest among the top ten, up 94% on the year.
What is the average import price of safety seat belts per kg?
The average declared import value was about $16.71 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $16.44 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of safety seat belts to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $11.0 million in 2017 to $11.9 million in 2024, an increase of 9%. The peak was 2018 at $14.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $12.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also export safety seat belts?
Yes. South Africa exported $946 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Australia, Namibia and Botswana. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $11.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for safety seat belts?
The HS code for safety seat belts is subheading 8708.21. It sits in HS chapter 87 (vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8708 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
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