Unwrought silver exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported unwrought silver worth $53.9 million (75 tonnes). That is 145% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 10% a year on average.
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 | $53.9M | 75 t |
| 2023 | $22.0M | 30 t |
| 2022 | $36.0M | 50 t |
| 2021 | $31.7M | 37 t |
| 2020 | $14.3M | 28 t |
| 2019 | $21.8M | 43 t |
| 2018 | $44.5M | 72 t |
| 2017 | $27.2M | 42 t |
Where South Africa exports unwrought silver to
Most of it went to United States (37%), China (28%), India (25%). Among the main buyer markets, China grew fastest (+97% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $20.1M | 37% |
| China | $14.9M | 28% |
| India | $13.5M | 25% |
| Hong Kong | $4.5M | 8.4% |
| Poland | $300K | 0.6% |
| Australia | $269K | 0.5% |
| Italy | $181K | 0.3% |
| Czech Republic | $84K | 0.2% |
| Mauritius | $31K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $11K | 0% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $722.41 per kg, close to the world average of $741.00.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Unwrought silver imports to South Africa
In 2024, South Africa imported unwrought silver worth $1.2 million (1 tonnes). Most of the value came from Taiwan (28%), United Arab Emirates (24%), Ghana (21%). Among the main suppliers, Taiwan grew fastest (+39% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | $345K | 28% |
| United Arab Emirates | $292K | 24% |
| Ghana | $257K | 21% |
| Turkey | $135K | 11% |
| Italy | $91K | 7.4% |
| United Kingdom | $40K | 3.2% |
| United States | $32K | 2.6% |
| Namibia | $9K | 0.8% |
| Australia | $9K | 0.7% |
| Switzerland | $9K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa unwrought silver exports (HS 7106.91): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 7106.91: Metals: silver, unwrought, (but not powder).
Common questions
What is the value of unwrought silver exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported unwrought silver worth $53.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 75 tonnes. That ranks it 32nd of 107 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was up 145% on 2023.
Which countries buy unwrought silver from South Africa?
The United States was the largest buyer with 37% of the value ($20.1 million), followed by China (28%) and India (25%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 15 buyer countries in total. Australia grew fastest among the top ten, up 809% on the year.
What is the average export price of unwrought silver per kg?
The average declared export value was about $722.41 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $741.00 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of unwrought silver from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $27.2 million in 2017 to $53.9 million in 2024, an increase of 98%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $31.4 million a year.
Does South Africa also import unwrought silver?
Yes. South Africa imported $1.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates and Ghana. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $52.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for unwrought silver?
The HS code for unwrought silver is subheading 7106.91. 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 7106 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
More trade data for South Africa
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.