Uncoated steel wire mesh exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported uncoated steel wire mesh worth $16.9 million (12.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 3%. 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 | $16.9M | 12.1K t |
| 2023 | $16.3M | 13.8K t |
| 2022 | $13.9M | 9.5K t |
| 2021 | $17.7M | 12.6K t |
| 2020 | $8.8M | 8.4K t |
| 2019 | $11.4M | 12.5K t |
| 2018 | $17.9M | 12.5K t |
| 2017 | $11.2M | 14.1K t |
Where South Africa exports uncoated steel wire mesh to
Most of it went to Botswana (17%), Zambia (14%), Australia (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 43%. Among the main buyer markets, Australia grew fastest (+228% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $2.9M | 18% |
| Zambia | $2.4M | 14% |
| Australia | $1.9M | 11% |
| Namibia | $1.5M | 9% |
| Zimbabwe | $1.5M | 8.7% |
| Malawi | $1.3M | 8% |
| Eswatini | $1.3M | 7.5% |
| DR Congo | $1.1M | 6.6% |
| Lesotho | $730K | 4.3% |
| Mozambique | $700K | 4.2% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.40 per kg, close to the world average of $1.61.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Uncoated steel wire mesh imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $3.3 million of uncoated steel wire mesh in 2024 (2.7 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. China alone supplied 84% of it. Among the main suppliers, Belgium grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.8M | 84% |
| Turkey | $184K | 5.5% |
| Belgium | $171K | 5.1% |
| Germany | $36K | 1.1% |
| Namibia | $27K | 0.8% |
| Sweden | $23K | 0.7% |
| India | $22K | 0.7% |
| Austria | $19K | 0.6% |
| France | $19K | 0.6% |
| Ireland | $17K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa uncoated steel wire mesh exports (HS 7314.39): 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 7314.39: Iron or steel wire: grill, netting and fencing, welded at the intersection, n.e.c. in item no. 7314.20, (other than plated or coated with zinc).
Common questions
What is the value of uncoated steel wire mesh exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported uncoated steel wire mesh worth $16.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 12.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 11th of 131 countries worldwide, with 3% of world exports. The value was up 4% on 2023.
Which countries buy uncoated steel wire mesh from South Africa?
Botswana was the largest buyer with 17% of the value ($2.9 million), followed by Zambia (14%) and Australia (11%). The top three together account for 43%, out of 33 buyer countries in total. Australia grew fastest among the top ten, up 228% on the year.
What is the average export price of uncoated steel wire mesh per kg?
The average declared export value was about $1.40 per kg in 2024, 13% below the world average of $1.61 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of uncoated steel wire mesh from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $11.2 million in 2017 to $16.9 million in 2024, an increase of 51%. The peak was 2018 at $17.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $14.2 million a year.
Does South Africa also import uncoated steel wire mesh?
Yes. South Africa imported $3.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, Turkey and Belgium. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $13.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for uncoated steel wire mesh?
The HS code for uncoated steel wire mesh is subheading 7314.39. It sits in HS chapter 73 (iron or steel articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7314 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.
Same product, other countries
World uncoated steel wire mesh trade: top importers and exporters
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