Tropical plywood imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported tropical plywood worth $2.1 million (2.4 thousand tonnes). That is 17% 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 .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.1M | 2.4K t |
| 2023 | $1.8M | 1.1K t |
| 2022 | $2.3M | 1.4K t |
| 2021 | $2.2M | 1.3K t |
| 2020 | $1.9M | 1.4K t |
| 2019 | $1.8M | 1.2K t |
| 2018 | $1.8M | 1.3K t |
| 2017 | $1.5M | 1.2K t |
Where South Africa imports tropical plywood from
Most of the value came from Indonesia (25%), Netherlands (23%), China (17%). Among the main suppliers, Indonesia grew fastest (+106% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | $518K | 25% |
| Netherlands | $478K | 23% |
| China | $345K | 17% |
| Gabon | $259K | 13% |
| Singapore | $145K | 7% |
| India | $133K | 6.4% |
| Malaysia | $72K | 3.5% |
| France | $39K | 1.9% |
| United Arab Emirates | $25K | 1.2% |
| Vietnam | $24K | 1.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.85 per kg, 27% below the world average of $1.16, 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.
Tropical plywood exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported tropical plywood worth $254 thousand (160 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Botswana (31%), Seychelles (16%), Lesotho (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Botswana grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $79K | 31% |
| Seychelles | $42K | 16% |
| Lesotho | $33K | 13% |
| Namibia | $25K | 10% |
| Italy | $21K | 8.4% |
| Zimbabwe | $21K | 8.1% |
| Mozambique | $9K | 3.4% |
| Burkina Faso | $6K | 2.3% |
| Zambia | $5K | 2.1% |
| Angola | $3K | 1.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa tropical plywood imports (HS 4412.31): 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 4412.31: Plywood: consisting only of sheets of wood (not bamboo), each ply 6mm or thinner, with at least one outer ply of tropical wood.
Common questions
What is the value of tropical plywood imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported tropical plywood worth $2.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 63rd of 204 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 17% on 2023.
Which countries supply tropical plywood to South Africa?
Indonesia was the largest supplier with 25% of the value ($518 thousand), followed by the Netherlands (23%) and China (17%). The top three together account for 65%, out of 15 supplier countries in total. Indonesia grew fastest among the top ten, up 106% on the year.
What is the average import price of tropical plywood per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.85 per kg in 2024, 27% below the world average of $1.16 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of tropical plywood to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.5 million in 2017 to $2.1 million in 2024, an increase of 34%. The peak was 2022 at $2.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $1.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export tropical plywood?
Yes. South Africa exported $254 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, the Seychelles and Lesotho. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for tropical plywood?
The HS code for tropical plywood is subheading 4412.31. It sits in HS chapter 44 (wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 4412 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.
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