Toilet bar soap exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of toilet bar soap by South Africa reached $60.1 million in 2024 (30.4 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. That is 4% 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 .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $60.1M | 30.4K t |
| 2023 | $57.5M | 27.0K t |
| 2022 | $42.9M | 20.9K t |
| 2021 | $40.1M | 22.2K t |
| 2020 | $35.3M | 23.5K t |
| 2019 | $40.5M | 28.1K t |
| 2018 | $49.8M | 33.2K t |
| 2017 | $44.8M | 35.1K t |
Where South Africa exports toilet bar soap to
Most of it went to Zambia (29%), Botswana (19%), Mozambique (10%). Among the main buyer markets, Netherlands grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $17.3M | 29% |
| Botswana | $11.6M | 19% |
| Mozambique | $5.9M | 9.9% |
| Malawi | $5.4M | 9.1% |
| Namibia | $4.7M | 7.8% |
| Zimbabwe | $4.1M | 6.8% |
| DR Congo | $2.9M | 4.9% |
| Eswatini | $1.6M | 2.7% |
| Netherlands | $1.6M | 2.6% |
| Mauritius | $1.2M | 2.1% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.98 per kg, close to the world average of $2.35.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Toilet bar soap imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $32.7 million of toilet bar soap in 2024 (15.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Germany alone supplied 52% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+39% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $17.1M | 52% |
| Spain | $5.0M | 15% |
| Greece | $2.5M | 7.8% |
| China | $2.3M | 7% |
| India | $1.1M | 3.2% |
| Poland | $1.0M | 3.2% |
| United Kingdom | $776K | 2.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | $585K | 1.8% |
| Italy | $542K | 1.7% |
| United States | $533K | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa toilet bar soap exports (HS 3401.11): 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 3401.11: Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use (including medicated products).
Common questions
What is the value of toilet bar soap exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported toilet bar soap worth $60.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 30.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 20th of 187 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was up 4% on 2023.
Which countries buy toilet bar soap from South Africa?
Zambia was the largest buyer with 29% of the value ($17.3 million), followed by Botswana (19%) and Mozambique (10%). The top three together account for 58%, out of 69 buyer countries in total. Eswatini grew fastest among the top ten, up 79% on the year.
What is the average export price of toilet bar soap per kg?
The average declared export value was about $1.98 per kg in 2024, 16% below the world average of $2.35 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of toilet bar soap from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $44.8 million in 2017 to $60.1 million in 2024, an increase of 34%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $46.4 million a year.
Does South Africa also import toilet bar soap?
Yes. South Africa imported $32.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Germany, Spain and Greece. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $27.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for toilet bar soap?
The HS code for toilet bar soap is subheading 3401.11. It sits in HS chapter 34 (soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3401 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For South Africa, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
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