Very heavy nonwoven natural fabric imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $6.1 million of very heavy nonwoven natural fabric in 2024 (1.4 thousand tonnes). That is 9% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $7.8 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 | $6.1M | 1.4K t |
| 2023 | $5.6M | 1.3K t |
| 2022 | $6.4M | 1.0K t |
| 2021 | $7.8M | 890 t |
| 2020 | $5.9M | 892 t |
| 2019 | $5.3M | 1.3K t |
| 2018 | $5.4M | 1.2K t |
| 2017 | $4.9M | 786 t |
Where South Africa imports very heavy nonwoven natural fabric from
The largest suppliers were China (24%), Germany (24%), United Kingdom (12%). Among the main suppliers, Turkey grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.4M | 24% |
| Germany | $1.4M | 24% |
| United Kingdom | $723K | 12% |
| Hungary | $469K | 7.7% |
| Slovenia | $345K | 5.7% |
| France | $244K | 4% |
| Poland | $241K | 4% |
| Greece | $176K | 2.9% |
| Turkey | $165K | 2.7% |
| Netherlands | $156K | 2.6% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.41 per kg, 23% below the world average of $5.71, 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.
Very heavy nonwoven natural fabric exports from South Africa
Exports of very heavy nonwoven natural fabric by South Africa reached $2.8 million in 2024 (969 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Zambia (25%), Mauritius (12%), DR Congo (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 48%. Among the main buyer markets, Mauritius grew fastest (+144% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $706K | 25% |
| Mauritius | $340K | 12% |
| DR Congo | $294K | 11% |
| Uganda | $262K | 9.3% |
| Mozambique | $195K | 6.9% |
| Guinea | $152K | 5.4% |
| Namibia | $119K | 4.2% |
| Botswana | $96K | 3.4% |
| Eswatini | $86K | 3% |
| Zimbabwe | $81K | 2.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa very heavy nonwoven natural fabric imports (HS 5603.94): 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 5603.94: Nonwovens: whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated, not of man-made filaments, (weighing more than 150g/m2).
Common questions
What is the value of very heavy nonwoven natural fabric imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported very heavy nonwoven natural fabric worth $6.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 56th of 212 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 9% on 2023.
Which countries supply very heavy nonwoven natural fabric to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 24% of the value ($1.4 million), followed by Germany (24%) and the United Kingdom (12%). The top three together account for 59%, out of 34 supplier countries in total. Hungary grew fastest among the top ten, up 156% on the year.
What is the average import price of very heavy nonwoven natural fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.41 per kg in 2024, 23% below the world average of $5.71 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of very heavy nonwoven natural fabric to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.9 million in 2017 to $6.1 million in 2024, an increase of 24%. The peak was 2021 at $7.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $5.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export very heavy nonwoven natural fabric?
Yes. South Africa exported $2.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Mauritius and the DR Congo. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $3.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for very heavy nonwoven natural fabric?
The HS code for very heavy nonwoven natural fabric is subheading 5603.94. It sits in HS chapter 56 (wadding, felt and nonwovens, special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5603 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 very heavy nonwoven natural fabric 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.