Sugar exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of sugar by South Africa reached $489.5 million in 2024 (791.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Value fell 4% from 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 | $489.5M | 791.6K t |
| 2023 | $507.6M | 749.0K t |
| 2022 | $313.3M | 555.0K t |
| 2021 | $284.2M | 596.6K t |
| 2020 | $419.8M | 1.06M t |
| 2019 | $509.0M | 1.52M t |
| 2018 | $395.8M | 1.09M t |
| 2017 | $304.5M | 567.6K t |
Where South Africa exports sugar to
Most of it went to Namibia (16%), Malaysia (16%), South Korea (12%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 44%. Among the main buyer markets, Madagascar grew fastest (+756% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $80.4M | 16% |
| Malaysia | $77.4M | 16% |
| South Korea | $58.1M | 12% |
| United Kingdom | $45.0M | 9.2% |
| Spain | $43.3M | 8.9% |
| Botswana | $33.1M | 6.8% |
| Madagascar | $32.8M | 6.7% |
| China | $22.8M | 4.7% |
| United States | $22.6M | 4.6% |
| Indonesia | $22.4M | 4.6% |
Product types under HS 1701
| 1701.14 | Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, other than as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring… | 70% |
| 1701.99 | Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | 26% |
| 1701.13 | Sugars: cane sugar, raw, in solid form, as specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | 3.9% |
| 1701.12 | Sugars: beet sugar, raw, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter | 0.3% |
| 1701.91 | Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, containing added flavouring or colouring matter | 0.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 1701.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.62 per kg, close to the world average of $0.59.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Sugar imports to South Africa
Imports of sugar by South Africa reached $351.3 million in 2024 (454.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Eswatini alone supplied 70% of it. Among the main suppliers, Brazil grew fastest (+79% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | $245.7M | 70% |
| Brazil | $88.1M | 25% |
| Belgium | $5.8M | 1.6% |
| India | $2.5M | 0.7% |
| France | $2.2M | 0.6% |
| Egypt | $1.9M | 0.5% |
| Poland | $1.3M | 0.4% |
| Malawi | $1.2M | 0.3% |
| Morocco | $562K | 0.2% |
| Mauritius | $553K | 0.2% |
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 1701: Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form.
Common questions
What is the value of sugar exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported sugar worth $489.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 791.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 13th of 169 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was down 4% on 2023.
Which countries buy sugar from South Africa?
Namibia was the largest buyer with 16% of the value ($80.4 million), followed by Malaysia (16%) and South Korea (12%). The top three together account for 44%, out of 66 buyer countries in total. Madagascar grew fastest among the top ten, up 756% on the year.
What is the average export price of sugar per kg?
The average declared export value was about $0.62 per kg in 2024, 5% above the world average of $0.59 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 sugar from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $304.5 million in 2017 to $489.5 million in 2024, an increase of 61%. The peak was 2019 at $509.0 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also import sugar?
Yes. South Africa imported $351.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Eswatini, Brazil and Belgium. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $138.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for sugar?
The HS code for sugar is heading 1701. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 1701.14 (70% of the value) and 1701.99 (26%). It sits in HS chapter 17 (sugars and sugar confectionery). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1701 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.
More trade data for South Africa
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