Unwrought rhodium exports from South Africa: data and top buyer countries
In 2024, South Africa exported unwrought rhodium worth $2.73 billion (21 tonnes). That makes it the largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 45 countries. That is 13% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 27% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2021, at $10.73 billion.
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 | $2.73B | 21 t |
| 2023 | $3.14B | 18 t |
| 2022 | $7.17B | 18 t |
| 2021 | $10.73B | 20 t |
| 2020 | $3.69B | 17 t |
| 2019 | $1.72B | 19 t |
| 2018 | $1.22B | 20 t |
| 2017 | $517.2M | 20 t |
Where South Africa exports unwrought rhodium to
Most of it went to Japan (25%), United States (24%), United Kingdom (10%). Among the main buyer markets, China grew fastest (+565% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $669.5M | 25% |
| United States | $643.2M | 24% |
| United Kingdom | $259.4M | 9.5% |
| China | $237.4M | 8.7% |
| Hong Kong | $228.6M | 8.4% |
| Italy | $192.5M | 7.1% |
| Germany | $177.2M | 6.5% |
| South Korea | $139.0M | 5.1% |
| Canada | $126.2M | 4.6% |
| Brazil | $45.4M | 1.7% |
Unwrought rhodium imports to South Africa
South Africa imported $1.8 million of unwrought rhodium in 2024. Germany alone supplied 72% of it. Among the main suppliers, United Kingdom grew fastest (+385% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $1.3M | 72% |
| Belgium | $240K | 13% |
| United Kingdom | $238K | 13% |
| Italy | $31K | 1.7% |
| Switzerland | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa unwrought rhodium exports (HS 7110.31): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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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 7110.31: Metals: rhodium, unwrought or in powder form.
Common questions
What is the value of unwrought rhodium exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported unwrought rhodium worth $2.73 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 21 tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 45 countries worldwide, with 37% of world exports. The value was down 13% on 2023.
Which countries buy unwrought rhodium from South Africa?
Japan was the largest buyer with 25% of the value ($669.5 million), followed by the United States (24%) and the United Kingdom (10%). The top three together account for 58%, out of 14 buyer countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 565% on the year.
How have exports of unwrought rhodium from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $517.2 million in 2017 to $2.73 billion in 2024, an increase of 427%. The peak was 2021 at $10.73 billion. Over 8 years the average was $3.86 billion a year.
Does South Africa also import unwrought rhodium?
Yes. South Africa imported $1.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $2.73 billion a year.
What is the HS code for unwrought rhodium?
The HS code for unwrought rhodium is subheading 7110.31. It sits in HS chapter 71 (natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7110 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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