Steel wire rope exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of steel wire rope by South Africa reached $5.9 million in 2024 (1.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Value rose 9% on 2023. 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 | $5.9M | 1.2K t |
| 2023 | $5.4M | 2.6K t |
| 2022 | $5.3M | 1.4K t |
| 2021 | $5.3M | 1.3K t |
| 2020 | $3.2M | 1.3K t |
| 2019 | $3.9M | 1.2K t |
| 2018 | $4.5M | 1.3K t |
| 2017 | $4.5M | 1.5K t |
Where South Africa exports steel wire rope to
Most of it went to Lesotho (24%), Namibia (23%), Botswana (11%). Among the main buyer markets, Lesotho grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | $1.4M | 24% |
| Namibia | $1.3M | 23% |
| Botswana | $664K | 11% |
| Mozambique | $547K | 9.3% |
| Zambia | $433K | 7.4% |
| DR Congo | $385K | 6.6% |
| Eswatini | $285K | 4.9% |
| Tanzania | $164K | 2.8% |
| Zimbabwe | $142K | 2.4% |
| Malawi | $80K | 1.4% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.94 per kg, 25% above the world average of $3.96. 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.
Steel wire rope imports to South Africa
Imports of steel wire rope by South Africa reached $2.0 million in 2024 (410 tonnes). China alone supplied 51% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+277% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.0M | 51% |
| India | $435K | 22% |
| United States | $96K | 4.8% |
| Latvia | $87K | 4.4% |
| Spain | $50K | 2.5% |
| Mauritius | $38K | 1.9% |
| Indonesia | $33K | 1.7% |
| Serbia | $29K | 1.5% |
| Germany | $28K | 1.4% |
| Portugal | $26K | 1.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa steel wire rope exports (HS 7312.90): 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 7312.90: Iron or steel: plaited bands, slings and the like, not electrically insulated.
Common questions
What is the value of steel wire rope exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported steel wire rope worth $5.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.2 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 20th of 161 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was up 9% on 2023.
Which countries buy steel wire rope from South Africa?
Lesotho was the largest buyer with 24% of the value ($1.4 million), followed by Namibia (23%) and Botswana (11%). The top three together account for 58%, out of 66 buyer countries in total. Malawi grew fastest among the top ten, up 150% on the year.
What is the average export price of steel wire rope per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.94 per kg in 2024, 25% above the world average of $3.96 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have exports of steel wire rope from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $4.5 million in 2017 to $5.9 million in 2024, an increase of 29%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $4.7 million a year.
Does South Africa also import steel wire rope?
Yes. South Africa imported $2.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, India and the United States. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $3.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for steel wire rope?
The HS code for steel wire rope is subheading 7312.90. It sits in HS chapter 73 (iron or steel articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7312 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
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