Vehicle brakes imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of vehicle brakes by South Africa reached $242.5 million in 2024 (48.4 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is close to the 2023 level. 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 | $242.5M | 48.4K t |
| 2023 | $237.3M | 45.4K t |
| 2022 | $245.9M | 166.9K t |
| 2021 | $233.9M | 46.5K t |
| 2020 | $174.0M | 38.8K t |
| 2019 | $221.0M | 43.1K t |
| 2018 | $220.3M | 44.9K t |
| 2017 | $185.8M | 38.4K t |
Where South Africa imports vehicle brakes from
Most of the value came from China (26%), Thailand (13%), Germany (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 49%. Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+35% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $63.2M | 26% |
| Thailand | $31.4M | 13% |
| Germany | $24.5M | 10% |
| Czech Republic | $24.1M | 9.9% |
| Japan | $17.8M | 7.3% |
| Poland | $15.5M | 6.4% |
| United States | $14.1M | 5.8% |
| Italy | $9.4M | 3.9% |
| Spain | $7.2M | 3% |
| India | $6.4M | 2.7% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.01 per kg, close to the world average of $6.21.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Vehicle brakes exports from South Africa
In 2024, South Africa exported vehicle brakes worth $30.6 million (2.9 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Botswana (23%), Mozambique (10%), Namibia (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 43%. Among the main buyer markets, Botswana grew fastest (+128% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $7.0M | 23% |
| Mozambique | $3.1M | 10% |
| Namibia | $3.0M | 9.8% |
| Eswatini | $3.0M | 9.8% |
| Zimbabwe | $2.1M | 6.8% |
| United States | $1.6M | 5.2% |
| DR Congo | $1.3M | 4.2% |
| Zambia | $1.1M | 3.5% |
| Angola | $822K | 2.7% |
| Japan | $776K | 2.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa vehicle brakes imports (HS 8708.30): 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 8708.30: Vehicle parts: brakes, servo-brakes and parts thereof.
Common questions
What is the value of vehicle brakes imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported vehicle brakes worth $242.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 48.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 32nd of 222 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 2% on 2023.
Which countries supply vehicle brakes to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 26% of the value ($63.2 million), followed by Thailand (13%) and Germany (10%). The top three together account for 49%, out of 80 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 35% on the year.
What is the average import price of vehicle brakes per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.01 per kg in 2024, 19% below the world average of $6.21 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of vehicle brakes to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $185.8 million in 2017 to $242.5 million in 2024, an increase of 31%. The peak was 2022 at $245.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $220.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also export vehicle brakes?
Yes. South Africa exported $30.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $211.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for vehicle brakes?
The HS code for vehicle brakes is subheading 8708.30. 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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