Work holders imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $2.8 million of work holders in 2024 (70 tonnes). Value fell 37% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2020, at $9.2 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 | $2.8M | 70 t |
| 2023 | $4.4M | 110 t |
| 2022 | $5.5M | 274 t |
| 2021 | $5.8M | 267 t |
| 2020 | $9.2M | 205 t |
| 2019 | $4.1M | 157 t |
| 2018 | $3.2M | 127 t |
| 2017 | $5.2M | 179 t |
Where South Africa imports work holders from
Most of the value came from Germany (31%), China (14%), United States (13%). Among the main suppliers, South Korea grew fastest (+771% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $870K | 31% |
| China | $385K | 14% |
| United States | $362K | 13% |
| Thailand | $234K | 8.4% |
| South Korea | $176K | 6.4% |
| Belgium | $145K | 5.3% |
| Italy | $137K | 4.9% |
| Taiwan | $121K | 4.4% |
| United Kingdom | $111K | 4% |
| Japan | $67K | 2.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $39.61 per kg, close to the world average of $34.88.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Work holders exports from South Africa
Exports of work holders by South Africa reached $826 thousand in 2024 (16 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Poland (48%), United States (33%), Germany (7%).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | $396K | 48% |
| United States | $276K | 33% |
| Germany | $57K | 6.8% |
| Zambia | $18K | 2.2% |
| United Kingdom | $15K | 1.8% |
| Namibia | $10K | 1.2% |
| Angola | $10K | 1.2% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $9K | 1.1% |
| Mozambique | $7K | 0.8% |
| Botswana | $6K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa work holders imports (HS 8466.20): 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 8466.20: Parts & accessories suited for use solely/principally with machines of headings 8456-8465: work holders.
Common questions
What is the value of work holders imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported work holders worth $2.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 70 tonnes. That ranks it 53rd of 194 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 37% on 2023.
Which countries supply work holders to South Africa?
Germany was the largest supplier with 31% of the value ($870 thousand), followed by China (14%) and the United States (13%). The top three together account for 58%, out of 36 supplier countries in total. South Korea grew fastest among the top ten, up 771% on the year.
What is the average import price of work holders per kg?
The average declared import value was about $39.61 per kg in 2024, 14% above the world average of $34.88 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of work holders to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.2 million in 2017 to $2.8 million in 2024, a fall of 47%. The peak was 2020 at $9.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $5.0 million a year.
Does South Africa also export work holders?
Yes. South Africa exported $826 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Poland, the United States and Germany. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $1.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for work holders?
The HS code for work holders is subheading 8466.20. 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 8466 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.
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