Thin cold-rolled stainless exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported thin cold-rolled stainless worth $74.6 million (37.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Value fell 40% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 11% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2022, at $213.5 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $74.6M | 37.1K t |
| 2023 | $124.8M | 53.4K t |
| 2022 | $213.5M | 68.6K t |
| 2021 | $186.3M | 72.2K t |
| 2020 | $99.8M | 55.4K t |
| 2019 | $131.9M | 68.8K t |
| 2018 | $164.2M | 78.9K t |
| 2017 | $167.2M | 83.0K t |
Where South Africa exports thin cold-rolled stainless to
Most of it went to Italy (14%), United Kingdom (13%), Spain (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 39%. Among the main buyer markets, Poland grew fastest (+761% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $10.6M | 14% |
| United Kingdom | $9.9M | 13% |
| Spain | $8.3M | 11% |
| Mexico | $7.6M | 10% |
| Netherlands | $6.4M | 8.6% |
| Argentina | $3.9M | 5.3% |
| Poland | $3.6M | 4.8% |
| Portugal | $3.5M | 4.7% |
| Uruguay | $3.1M | 4.2% |
| Germany | $3.0M | 4.1% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.01 per kg, close to the world average of $2.29.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Thin cold-rolled stainless imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $16.4 million of thin cold-rolled stainless in 2024 (6.9 thousand tonnes). The largest suppliers were Taiwan (38%), China (38%), Finland (19%). Among the main suppliers, Indonesia grew fastest (+626% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $6.2M | 38% |
| China | $6.2M | 38% |
| Finland | $3.1M | 19% |
| Indonesia | $349K | 2.1% |
| Japan | $149K | 0.9% |
| France | $75K | 0.5% |
| Sweden | $75K | 0.5% |
| India | $53K | 0.3% |
| Italy | $39K | 0.2% |
| United Kingdom | $39K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa thin cold-rolled stainless exports (HS 7219.33): 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 7219.33: Steel, stainless: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm.
Common questions
What is the value of thin cold-rolled stainless exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported thin cold-rolled stainless worth $74.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 37.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 17th of 90 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was down 40% on 2023.
Which countries buy thin cold-rolled stainless from South Africa?
Italy was the largest buyer with 14% of the value ($10.6 million), followed by the United Kingdom (13%) and Spain (11%). The top three together account for 39%, out of 65 buyer countries in total. Poland grew fastest among the top ten, up 761% on the year.
What is the average export price of thin cold-rolled stainless per kg?
The average declared export value was about $2.01 per kg in 2024, 12% below the world average of $2.29 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of thin cold-rolled stainless from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $167.2 million in 2017 to $74.6 million in 2024, a fall of 55%. The peak was 2022 at $213.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $145.3 million a year.
Does South Africa also import thin cold-rolled stainless?
Yes. South Africa imported $16.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Taiwan, China and Finland. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $58.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for thin cold-rolled stainless?
The HS code for thin cold-rolled stainless is subheading 7219.33. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7219 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 thin cold-rolled stainless trade: top importers and exporters
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