Vehicle airbags imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported vehicle airbags worth $51.7 million (3.1 thousand tonnes). The value was almost unchanged from 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 | $51.7M | 3.1K t |
| 2023 | $53.0M | 3.1K t |
| 2022 | $48.8M | 3.2K t |
| 2021 | $48.9M | 2.8K t |
| 2020 | $36.6M | 2.3K t |
| 2019 | $57.7M | 3.0K t |
| 2018 | $51.7M | 2.8K t |
| 2017 | $52.3M | 2.7K t |
Where South Africa imports vehicle airbags from
Most of the value came from Thailand (32%), Germany (19%), China (12%). Among the main suppliers, Tunisia grew fastest (+89% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $16.7M | 32% |
| Germany | $9.7M | 19% |
| China | $6.2M | 12% |
| Poland | $4.8M | 9.3% |
| Tunisia | $4.2M | 8.2% |
| Romania | $1.6M | 3.1% |
| Hungary | $1.4M | 2.7% |
| Mexico | $1.4M | 2.7% |
| Malaysia | $1.1M | 2.1% |
| France | $867K | 1.7% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $16.61 per kg, close to the world average of $19.71.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Vehicle airbags exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $13.1 million of vehicle airbags in 2024 (440 tonnes). Argentina alone took 65% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Thailand grew fastest (+71% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | $8.4M | 65% |
| Thailand | $3.3M | 25% |
| Namibia | $359K | 2.7% |
| Botswana | $240K | 1.8% |
| Belgium | $122K | 0.9% |
| Eswatini | $86K | 0.7% |
| Zambia | $66K | 0.5% |
| Germany | $48K | 0.4% |
| Mozambique | $38K | 0.3% |
| Kenya | $32K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa vehicle airbags imports (HS 8708.95): 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 8708.95: Vehicle parts: safety airbags with inflater system: parts thereof.
Common questions
What is the value of vehicle airbags imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported vehicle airbags worth $51.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 29th of 191 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 2% on 2023.
Which countries supply vehicle airbags to South Africa?
Thailand was the largest supplier with 32% of the value ($16.7 million), followed by Germany (19%) and China (12%). The top three together account for 63%, out of 46 supplier countries in total. Tunisia grew fastest among the top ten, up 89% on the year.
What is the average import price of vehicle airbags per kg?
The average declared import value was about $16.61 per kg in 2024, 16% below the world average of $19.71 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of vehicle airbags to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $52.3 million in 2017 to $51.7 million in 2024, a fall of 1%. The peak was 2019 at $57.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $50.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also export vehicle airbags?
Yes. South Africa exported $13.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Argentina, Thailand and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $38.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for vehicle airbags?
The HS code for vehicle airbags is subheading 8708.95. It sits in HS chapter 87 (vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8708 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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