Sunflower, safflower and cotton oil imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $179.6 million of sunflower, safflower and cotton oil in 2024 (173.7 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is close to the 2023 level. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $301.6 million.
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 | $179.6M | 173.7K t |
| 2023 | $180.2M | 175.6K t |
| 2022 | $301.6M | 192.6K t |
| 2021 | $96.6M | 75.3K t |
| 2020 | $178.6M | 272.5K t |
| 2019 | $177.3M | 249.6K t |
| 2018 | $121.4M | 156.2K t |
| 2017 | $146.2M | 179.0K t |
Where South Africa imports sunflower, safflower and cotton oil from
One supplier dominates: Bulgaria accounted for 62% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Romania grew fastest (+85% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | $110.9M | 62% |
| Romania | $24.0M | 13% |
| Argentina | $23.3M | 13% |
| Netherlands | $14.6M | 8.2% |
| Spain | $2.2M | 1.2% |
| Poland | $2.2M | 1.2% |
| Ukraine | $883K | 0.5% |
| Turkey | $547K | 0.3% |
| Hungary | $509K | 0.3% |
| Mozambique | $62K | 0% |
Product types under HS 1512
| 1512.11 | Vegetable oils: sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified | 94% |
| 1512.19 | Vegetable oils: sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | 5.6% |
| 1512.29 | Vegetable oils: cotton-seed oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | 0.3% |
| 1512.21 | Vegetable oils: cotton-seed oil and its fractions: crude, whether or not gossypol has been removed, not chemically modified | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 1512.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.03 per kg, close to the world average of $1.02.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Sunflower, safflower and cotton oil exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported sunflower, safflower and cotton oil worth $100.4 million (61.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Most of it went to Namibia (41%), Botswana (33%), Lesotho (11%). Among the main buyer markets, Mozambique grew fastest (+392% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $41.2M | 41% |
| Botswana | $33.2M | 33% |
| Lesotho | $10.7M | 11% |
| Mozambique | $9.3M | 9.2% |
| Eswatini | $2.2M | 2.2% |
| Zambia | $1.0M | 1% |
| Ethiopia | $997K | 1% |
| Malawi | $627K | 0.6% |
| Zimbabwe | $304K | 0.3% |
| Tanzania | $283K | 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 1512: Sun-flower seed, safflower or cotton-seed oil and their fractions; whether or not refined, but not chemically modified.
Common questions
What is the value of sunflower, safflower and cotton oil imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported sunflower, safflower and cotton oil worth $179.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 173.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 20th of 208 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 0% on 2023.
Which countries supply sunflower, safflower and cotton oil to South Africa?
Bulgaria was the largest supplier with 62% of the value ($110.9 million), followed by Romania (13%) and Argentina (13%). The top three together account for 88%, out of 28 supplier countries in total. Spain grew fastest among the top ten, up 474% on the year.
What is the average import price of sunflower, safflower and cotton oil per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.03 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.02 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 sunflower, safflower and cotton oil to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $146.2 million in 2017 to $179.6 million in 2024, an increase of 23%. The peak was 2022 at $301.6 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also export sunflower, safflower and cotton oil?
Yes. South Africa exported $100.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Namibia, Botswana and Lesotho. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $79.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for sunflower, safflower and cotton oil?
The HS code for sunflower, safflower and cotton oil is heading 1512. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 1512.11 (94% of the value) and 1512.19 (6%). It sits in HS chapter 15 (animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1512 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
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