Vehicle engines over 1 litre imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, South Africa imported vehicle engines over 1 litre worth $225.4 million (21.6 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 53% more than in 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 | $225.4M | 21.6K t |
| 2023 | $147.0M | 3.4K t |
| 2022 | $142.2M | 3.5K t |
| 2021 | $117.1M | 4.3K t |
| 2020 | $101.9M | 4.6K t |
| 2019 | $120.8M | 4.1K t |
| 2018 | $148.3M | 4.3K t |
| 2017 | $165.1M | 5.0K t |
Where South Africa imports vehicle engines over 1 litre from
Most of the value came from Austria (42%), Germany (34%), Spain (6%). Among the main suppliers, Indonesia grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | $94.0M | 42% |
| Germany | $75.6M | 34% |
| Spain | $13.2M | 5.9% |
| Indonesia | $11.0M | 4.9% |
| United Kingdom | $8.6M | 3.8% |
| United Arab Emirates | $6.5M | 2.9% |
| Thailand | $3.5M | 1.6% |
| Japan | $3.2M | 1.4% |
| China | $2.9M | 1.3% |
| United States | $1.1M | 0.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $10.42 per kg, 40% below the world average of $17.41, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Vehicle engines over 1 litre exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $4.1 million of vehicle engines over 1 litre in 2024 (198 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Germany (41%), Australia (18%), United Kingdom (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Australia grew fastest (+528% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $1.7M | 41% |
| Australia | $726K | 18% |
| United Kingdom | $328K | 8.1% |
| Austria | $290K | 7.1% |
| Botswana | $97K | 2.4% |
| United States | $94K | 2.3% |
| Ghana | $82K | 2% |
| Italy | $78K | 1.9% |
| Zimbabwe | $69K | 1.7% |
| Turkey | $67K | 1.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa vehicle engines over 1 litre imports (HS 8407.34): 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 8407.34: Engines: reciprocating piston engines, of a kind used for the propulsion of vehicles of chapter 87, of a cylinder capacity exceeding 1000cc.
Common questions
What is the value of vehicle engines over 1 litre imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported vehicle engines over 1 litre worth $225.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 21.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 24th of 203 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 53% on 2023.
Which countries supply vehicle engines over 1 litre to South Africa?
Austria was the largest supplier with 42% of the value ($94.0 million), followed by Germany (34%) and Spain (6%). The top three together account for 81%, out of 37 supplier countries in total. Austria grew fastest among the top ten, up 526% on the year.
What is the average import price of vehicle engines over 1 litre per kg?
The average declared import value was about $10.42 per kg in 2024, 40% below the world average of $17.41 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 engines over 1 litre to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $165.1 million in 2017 to $225.4 million in 2024, an increase of 37%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $146.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also export vehicle engines over 1 litre?
Yes. South Africa exported $4.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $221.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for vehicle engines over 1 litre?
The HS code for vehicle engines over 1 litre is subheading 8407.34. It sits in HS chapter 84 (machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8407 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
World vehicle engines over 1 litre trade: top importers and exporters
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.