Steel semi-finished products exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of steel semi-finished products by South Africa reached $249.4 million in 2024 (454.5 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. That is close to the 2023 level. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $249.4M | 454.5K t |
| 2023 | $255.1M | 426.7K t |
| 2022 | $204.2M | 271.4K t |
| 2021 | $123.7M | 198.7K t |
| 2020 | $114.3M | 241.2K t |
| 2019 | $199.4M | 460.1K t |
| 2018 | $186.5M | 392.2K t |
| 2017 | $155.7M | 379.0K t |
Where South Africa exports steel semi-finished products to
Most of it went to Sri Lanka (21%), Tanzania (17%), Kenya (14%). Among the main buyer markets, Djibouti grew fastest (+823% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | $53.1M | 21% |
| Tanzania | $42.3M | 17% |
| Kenya | $34.9M | 14% |
| Uganda | $19.9M | 8% |
| Ghana | $15.3M | 6.1% |
| Thailand | $15.2M | 6.1% |
| Taiwan | $14.7M | 5.9% |
| Cameroon | $12.8M | 5.1% |
| Djibouti | $8.2M | 3.3% |
| Mauritius | $5.5M | 2.2% |
Product types under HS 7207
| 7207.19 | Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, other than rectangular or… | 54% |
| 7207.11 | Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel: containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, of rectangular (including… | 32% |
| 7207.12 | Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel: containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, of rectangular (other… | 8.1% |
| 7207.20 | Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight 0.25% or more of carbon | 5.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 7207.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.55 per kg, close to the world average of $0.60.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Steel semi-finished products imports to South Africa
In 2024, South Africa imported steel semi-finished products worth $2.0 million (88.9 thousand tonnes). The largest suppliers were Italy (43%), Spain (31%), China (9%). Among the main suppliers, Italy grew fastest (+459% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $859K | 43% |
| Spain | $614K | 31% |
| China | $186K | 9.4% |
| Germany | $79K | 4% |
| United Kingdom | $79K | 4% |
| Ukraine | $74K | 3.7% |
| Netherlands | $41K | 2.1% |
| India | $27K | 1.3% |
| France | $7K | 0.4% |
| Singapore | $7K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
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.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 7207: Iron or non-alloy steel; semi-finished products thereof.
Common questions
What is the value of steel semi-finished products exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported steel semi-finished products worth $249.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 454.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 22nd of 117 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was down 2% on 2023.
Which countries buy steel semi-finished products from South Africa?
Sri Lanka was the largest buyer with 21% of the value ($53.1 million), followed by Tanzania (17%) and Kenya (14%). The top three together account for 52%, out of 39 buyer countries in total. Djibouti grew fastest among the top ten, up 823% on the year.
What is the average export price of steel semi-finished products per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.55 per kg in 2024, 8% below the world average of $0.60 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have exports of steel semi-finished products from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $155.7 million in 2017 to $249.4 million in 2024, an increase of 60%. The peak was 2023 at $255.1 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also import steel semi-finished products?
Yes. South Africa imported $2.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Italy, Spain and China. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $247.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for steel semi-finished products?
The HS code for steel semi-finished products is heading 7207. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 7207.19 (54% of the value) and 7207.11 (32%). It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7207 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see the companies that ship to and from it. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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