Textured polyester fabric (natural) imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported textured polyester fabric (natural) worth $5.3 million (1.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 7% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $7.6 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 | $5.3M | 1.8K t |
| 2023 | $5.0M | 1.6K t |
| 2022 | $7.6M | 2.3K t |
| 2021 | $4.8M | 1.6K t |
| 2020 | $3.8M | 1.4K t |
| 2019 | $5.1M | 1.8K t |
| 2018 | $5.6M | 2.0K t |
| 2017 | $5.4M | 1.9K t |
Where South Africa imports textured polyester fabric (natural) from
China alone supplied 97% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $5.2M | 97% |
| South Korea | $43K | 0.8% |
| India | $31K | 0.6% |
| Indonesia | $16K | 0.3% |
| United States | $10K | 0.2% |
| Pakistan | $9K | 0.2% |
| Panama | $7K | 0.1% |
| Chile | $6K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $6K | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | $5K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.91 per kg, 31% below the world average of $4.19, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Textured polyester fabric (natural) exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $540 thousand of textured polyester fabric (natural) in 2024 (97 tonnes). Zimbabwe alone took 52% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $280K | 52% |
| Mozambique | $175K | 32% |
| Eswatini | $63K | 12% |
| Namibia | $7K | 1.3% |
| Lesotho | $6K | 1.1% |
| Kenya | $6K | 1.1% |
| Qatar | $1K | 0.2% |
| Tanzania | $1K | 0.2% |
| Botswana | $1K | 0.1% |
| China | $0K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa textured polyester fabric (natural) imports (HS 5407.51): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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.
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 5407.51: Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, unbleached or bleached.
Common questions
What is the value of textured polyester fabric (natural) imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported textured polyester fabric (natural) worth $5.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 39th of 182 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 7% on 2023.
Which countries supply textured polyester fabric (natural) to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 97% of the value ($5.2 million), followed by South Korea (1%) and India (1%). The top three together account for 99%, out of 21 supplier countries in total. Germany grew fastest among the top ten, up 358% on the year.
What is the average import price of textured polyester fabric (natural) per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.91 per kg in 2024, 31% below the world average of $4.19 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of textured polyester fabric (natural) to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.4 million in 2017 to $5.3 million in 2024, a fall of 1%. The peak was 2022 at $7.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $5.3 million a year.
Does South Africa also export textured polyester fabric (natural)?
Yes. South Africa exported $540 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $4.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for textured polyester fabric (natural)?
The HS code for textured polyester fabric (natural) is subheading 5407.51. It sits in HS chapter 54 (man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5407 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for South Africa. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World textured polyester fabric (natural) trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for South Africa
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.