Sodium bicarbonate imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $20.7 million of sodium bicarbonate in 2024 (40.9 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is 5% 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 | $20.7M | 40.9K t |
| 2023 | $19.8M | 31.7K t |
| 2022 | $20.4M | 41.8K t |
| 2021 | $11.5M | 36.3K t |
| 2020 | $13.9M | 40.4K t |
| 2019 | $14.3M | 37.9K t |
| 2018 | $13.5M | 31.4K t |
| 2017 | $12.9M | 29.4K t |
Where South Africa imports sodium bicarbonate from
Most of the value came from China (35%), India (17%), Eswatini (17%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+176% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $7.3M | 36% |
| India | $3.6M | 18% |
| Eswatini | $3.5M | 17% |
| Turkey | $2.2M | 11% |
| Italy | $1.9M | 9% |
| Spain | $763K | 3.7% |
| United Kingdom | $483K | 2.3% |
| Belgium | $152K | 0.7% |
| Germany | $147K | 0.7% |
| France | $130K | 0.6% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.51 per kg, 21% above the world average of $0.42. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Sodium bicarbonate exports from South Africa
Exports of sodium bicarbonate by South Africa reached $1.7 million in 2024 (3.6 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Zambia (23%), Zimbabwe (14%), Malawi (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Botswana grew fastest (+45% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $396K | 24% |
| Zimbabwe | $239K | 14% |
| Malawi | $216K | 13% |
| Namibia | $183K | 11% |
| Botswana | $172K | 10% |
| China | $153K | 9.1% |
| Mozambique | $125K | 7.4% |
| Eswatini | $80K | 4.8% |
| DR Congo | $59K | 3.5% |
| Lesotho | $27K | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa sodium bicarbonate imports (HS 2836.30): 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 2836.30: Carbonates: sodium hydrogen carbonate (sodium bicarbonate).
Common questions
What is the value of sodium bicarbonate imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported sodium bicarbonate worth $20.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 40.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 15th of 208 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply sodium bicarbonate to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($7.3 million), followed by India (17%) and Eswatini (17%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 176% on the year.
What is the average import price of sodium bicarbonate per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.51 per kg in 2024, 21% above the world average of $0.42 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of sodium bicarbonate to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $12.9 million in 2017 to $20.7 million in 2024, an increase of 60%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $15.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export sodium bicarbonate?
Yes. South Africa exported $1.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $19.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for sodium bicarbonate?
The HS code for sodium bicarbonate is subheading 2836.30. It sits in HS chapter 28 (inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2836 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.
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