Tower cranes exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
South Africa exported $2.5 million of tower cranes in 2024 (591 tonnes). That is 20% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 19% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $4.4 million.
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 | $2.5M | 591 t |
| 2023 | $2.1M | 559 t |
| 2022 | $2.3M | 857 t |
| 2021 | $760K | 246 t |
| 2020 | $815K | 245 t |
| 2019 | $4.4M | 1.6K t |
| 2018 | $2.9M | 770 t |
| 2017 | $730K | 139 t |
Where South Africa exports tower cranes to
Most of it went to Lesotho (34%), Israel (33%), Namibia (15%).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | $850K | 34% |
| Israel | $823K | 33% |
| Namibia | $364K | 15% |
| Zambia | $286K | 11% |
| Mozambique | $164K | 6.5% |
| DR Congo | $18K | 0.7% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $2K | 0.1% |
| Australia | $2K | 0.1% |
| Botswana | $1K | 0% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.25 per kg, 48% above the world average of $2.87. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Tower cranes imports to South Africa
Imports of tower cranes by South Africa reached $1.8 million in 2024 (905 tonnes). China alone supplied 65% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.2M | 65% |
| Zimbabwe | $230K | 13% |
| Italy | $161K | 9% |
| Tanzania | $144K | 8.1% |
| Mozambique | $55K | 3.1% |
| United States | $24K | 1.4% |
| Singapore | $3K | 0.2% |
| Namibia | $2K | 0.1% |
| Zambia | $2K | 0.1% |
| Slovakia | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa tower cranes exports (HS 8426.20): 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 8426.20: Cranes: tower cranes.
Common questions
What is the value of tower cranes exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported tower cranes worth $2.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 591 tonnes. That ranks it 29th of 113 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 20% on 2023.
Which countries buy tower cranes from South Africa?
Lesotho was the largest buyer with 34% of the value ($850 thousand), followed by Israel (33%) and Namibia (15%). The top three together account for 81%, out of 9 buyer countries in total. Lesotho grew fastest among the top ten, up 21% on the year.
What is the average export price of tower cranes per kg?
The average declared export value was about $4.25 per kg in 2024, 48% above the world average of $2.87 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of tower cranes from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $730 thousand in 2017 to $2.5 million in 2024, an increase of 244%. The peak was 2019 at $4.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also import tower cranes?
Yes. South Africa imported $1.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, Zimbabwe and Italy. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $732 thousand a year.
What is the HS code for tower cranes?
The HS code for tower cranes is subheading 8426.20. It sits in HS chapter 84 (machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8426 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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