Urea fertilizer imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported urea fertilizer worth $325.0 million (936.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is 6% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $946.8 million.
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 | $325.0M | 936.6K t |
| 2023 | $347.5M | 904.6K t |
| 2022 | $946.8M | 1.41M t |
| 2021 | $688.0M | 1.49M t |
| 2020 | $209.6M | 859.4K t |
| 2019 | $300.4M | 1.25M t |
| 2018 | $241.7M | 844.0K t |
| 2017 | $238.9M | 931.8K t |
Where South Africa imports urea fertilizer from
The largest suppliers were Saudi Arabia (32%), Qatar (23%), Oman (19%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+412% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | $105.2M | 32% |
| Qatar | $73.2M | 23% |
| Oman | $63.3M | 20% |
| Nigeria | $31.9M | 9.8% |
| Russia | $28.5M | 8.8% |
| United Arab Emirates | $12.5M | 3.9% |
| China | $6.1M | 1.9% |
| Indonesia | $1.9M | 0.6% |
| Germany | $820K | 0.3% |
| Poland | $436K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.35 per kg, close to the world average of $0.36.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Urea fertilizer exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported urea fertilizer worth $40.4 million (82.5 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Zambia (44%), Zimbabwe (23%), Eswatini (19%). Among the main buyer markets, Mozambique grew fastest (+205% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $17.6M | 44% |
| Zimbabwe | $9.2M | 23% |
| Eswatini | $7.6M | 19% |
| Mozambique | $1.8M | 4.5% |
| Namibia | $1.3M | 3.2% |
| Mauritius | $821K | 2% |
| DR Congo | $727K | 1.8% |
| France | $381K | 0.9% |
| Botswana | $340K | 0.8% |
| Kenya | $196K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa urea fertilizer imports (HS 3102.10): 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 3102.10: Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solution.
Common questions
What is the value of urea fertilizer imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported urea fertilizer worth $325.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 936.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 14th of 202 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was down 6% on 2023.
Which countries supply urea fertilizer to South Africa?
Saudi Arabia was the largest supplier with 32% of the value ($105.2 million), followed by Qatar (23%) and Oman (19%). The top three together account for 74%, out of 28 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 412% on the year.
What is the average import price of urea fertilizer per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.35 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $0.36 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of urea fertilizer to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $238.9 million in 2017 to $325.0 million in 2024, an increase of 36%. The peak was 2022 at $946.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $412.3 million a year.
Does South Africa also export urea fertilizer?
Yes. South Africa exported $40.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $284.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for urea fertilizer?
The HS code for urea fertilizer is subheading 3102.10. It sits in HS chapter 31 (fertilizers). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3102 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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