Steel wire ropes imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of steel wire ropes by South Africa reached $67.8 million in 2024 (31.0 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 8% 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 | $67.8M | 31.0K t |
| 2023 | $62.8M | 24.8K t |
| 2022 | $71.8M | 26.2K t |
| 2021 | $63.7M | 28.3K t |
| 2020 | $48.0M | 21.8K t |
| 2019 | $63.7M | 29.8K t |
| 2018 | $59.2M | 26.2K t |
| 2017 | $50.5M | 26.3K t |
Where South Africa imports steel wire ropes from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 51% of the value. Among the main suppliers, South Korea grew fastest (+105% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $34.8M | 51% |
| South Korea | $7.4M | 11% |
| Malaysia | $3.7M | 5.5% |
| United States | $3.5M | 5.1% |
| United Kingdom | $2.9M | 4.3% |
| Italy | $2.8M | 4.1% |
| Portugal | $2.2M | 3.3% |
| Germany | $1.9M | 2.8% |
| Thailand | $1.9M | 2.8% |
| Indonesia | $1.3M | 1.9% |
Product types under HS 7312
| 7312.10 | Iron or steel: stranded wire, ropes and cables, not electrically insulated | 97% |
| 7312.90 | Iron or steel: plaited bands, slings and the like, not electrically insulated | 2.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 7312.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.19 per kg, close to the world average of $2.04.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Steel wire ropes exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $45.9 million of steel wire ropes in 2024 (10.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were Zambia (16%), Canada (13%), Namibia (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 39%. Among the main buyer markets, Lesotho grew fastest (+174% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $7.4M | 16% |
| Canada | $5.9M | 13% |
| Namibia | $4.7M | 10% |
| Zimbabwe | $4.6M | 10% |
| DR Congo | $3.7M | 8.1% |
| Lesotho | $3.1M | 6.8% |
| China | $3.1M | 6.7% |
| United States | $2.3M | 5% |
| Australia | $2.1M | 4.5% |
| Botswana | $2.0M | 4.4% |
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 7312: Stranded wire, ropes, cables, plaited bands, slings and the like, of iron or steel, not electrically insulated.
Common questions
What is the value of steel wire ropes imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported steel wire ropes worth $67.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 31.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 32nd of 221 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 8% on 2023.
Which countries supply steel wire ropes to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 51% of the value ($34.8 million), followed by South Korea (11%) and Malaysia (6%). The top three together account for 68%, out of 77 supplier countries in total. South Korea grew fastest among the top ten, up 105% on the year.
What is the average import price of steel wire ropes per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.19 per kg in 2024, 7% above the world average of $2.04 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 imports of steel wire ropes to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $50.5 million in 2017 to $67.8 million in 2024, an increase of 34%. The peak was 2022 at $71.8 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also export steel wire ropes?
Yes. South Africa exported $45.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Canada and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $21.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for steel wire ropes?
The HS code for steel wire ropes is heading 7312. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 7312.10 (97% of the value) and 7312.90 (3%). 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?
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