Water filtration equipment imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of water filtration equipment by South Africa reached $54.7 million in 2024 (2.5 thousand tonnes). Value rose 28% on 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 | $54.7M | 2.5K t |
| 2023 | $42.8M | 1.7K t |
| 2022 | $42.5M | 1.9K t |
| 2021 | $45.2M | 2.0K t |
| 2020 | $37.1M | 1.8K t |
| 2019 | $49.9M | 2.5K t |
| 2018 | $55.8M | 2.7K t |
| 2017 | $47.2M | 2.5K t |
Where South Africa imports water filtration equipment from
Most of the value came from Germany (21%), China (17%), United States (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 49%. Among the main suppliers, Canada grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $11.4M | 21% |
| China | $9.6M | 18% |
| United States | $5.6M | 10% |
| Netherlands | $5.2M | 9.5% |
| Italy | $4.4M | 8% |
| Canada | $2.1M | 3.8% |
| United Kingdom | $1.9M | 3.5% |
| France | $1.5M | 2.7% |
| South Korea | $1.4M | 2.5% |
| Japan | $1.2M | 2.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $21.58 per kg, close to the world average of $18.43.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Water filtration equipment exports from South Africa
Exports of water filtration equipment by South Africa reached $34.7 million in 2024 (1.5 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Botswana (12%), Namibia (10%), Zimbabwe (7%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 28%. Among the main buyer markets, Australia grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | $4.0M | 12% |
| Namibia | $3.4M | 9.8% |
| Zimbabwe | $2.4M | 6.8% |
| United States | $2.3M | 6.6% |
| Nigeria | $2.1M | 6% |
| United Kingdom | $1.8M | 5.1% |
| Eswatini | $1.6M | 4.7% |
| Australia | $1.4M | 4.2% |
| DR Congo | $1.4M | 4% |
| Mozambique | $1.4M | 4% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa water filtration equipment imports (HS 8421.21): 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 8421.21: Machinery: for filtering or purifying water.
Common questions
What is the value of water filtration equipment imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported water filtration equipment worth $54.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 50th of 222 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 28% on 2023.
Which countries supply water filtration equipment to South Africa?
Germany was the largest supplier with 21% of the value ($11.4 million), followed by China (17%) and the United States (10%). The top three together account for 49%, out of 73 supplier countries in total. Germany grew fastest among the top ten, up 219% on the year.
What is the average import price of water filtration equipment per kg?
The average declared import value was about $21.58 per kg in 2024, 17% above the world average of $18.43 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of water filtration equipment to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $47.2 million in 2017 to $54.7 million in 2024, an increase of 16%. The peak was 2018 at $55.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $46.9 million a year.
Does South Africa also export water filtration equipment?
Yes. South Africa exported $34.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $20.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for water filtration equipment?
The HS code for water filtration equipment is subheading 8421.21. 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 8421 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.
Same product, other countries
World water filtration equipment trade: top importers and exporters
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