Workshop equipment exports from South Africa: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, South Africa exported workshop equipment worth $2.4 million (224 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Value fell 10% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $3.6 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.4M | 224 t |
| 2023 | $2.7M | 187 t |
| 2022 | $3.6M | 275 t |
| 2021 | $3.1M | 294 t |
| 2020 | $2.6M | 269 t |
| 2019 | $3.2M | 317 t |
| 2018 | $2.8M | 258 t |
| 2017 | $2.3M | 272 t |
Where South Africa exports workshop equipment to
The largest buyer markets were Namibia (19%), Mozambique (14%), DR Congo (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 41%. Among the main buyer markets, Singapore grew fastest (+546% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | $454K | 19% |
| Mozambique | $326K | 14% |
| DR Congo | $183K | 7.7% |
| Burkina Faso | $150K | 6.3% |
| Zambia | $133K | 5.6% |
| Botswana | $116K | 4.9% |
| Sweden | $111K | 4.7% |
| Singapore | $102K | 4.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $90K | 3.8% |
| Finland | $69K | 2.9% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $10.62 per kg, 27% above the world average of $8.37. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Workshop equipment imports to South Africa
In 2024, South Africa imported workshop equipment worth $1.6 million (182 tonnes). The largest suppliers were China (43%), United States (14%), Germany (9%). Among the main suppliers, Singapore grew fastest (+144% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $694K | 43% |
| United States | $224K | 14% |
| Germany | $140K | 8.6% |
| Singapore | $102K | 6.3% |
| Taiwan | $83K | 5.1% |
| Saudi Arabia | $69K | 4.3% |
| Madagascar | $42K | 2.6% |
| United Kingdom | $39K | 2.4% |
| India | $28K | 1.7% |
| Greece | $17K | 1.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa workshop equipment exports (HS 8205.90): 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 8205.90: Tools, hand: n.e.c. in heading 8205, including anvils, portable forges, hand or pedal-operated grinding wheels with frameworks, and sets of articles of two or more of the subheadings in heading 8205.
Common questions
What is the value of workshop equipment exported by South Africa?
South Africa exported workshop equipment worth $2.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 224 tonnes. That ranks it 31st of 172 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was down 10% on 2023.
Which countries buy workshop equipment from South Africa?
Namibia was the largest buyer with 19% of the value ($454 thousand), followed by Mozambique (14%) and the DR Congo (8%). The top three together account for 41%, out of 75 buyer countries in total. Singapore grew fastest among the top ten, up 546% on the year.
What is the average export price of workshop equipment per kg?
The average declared export value was about $10.62 per kg in 2024, 27% above the world average of $8.37 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have exports of workshop equipment from South Africa changed since 2017?
Exports went from $2.3 million in 2017 to $2.4 million in 2024, an increase of 4%. The peak was 2022 at $3.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.8 million a year.
Does South Africa also import workshop equipment?
Yes. South Africa imported $1.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, the United States and Germany. On balance South Africa is a net exporter of this product, by about $756 thousand a year.
What is the HS code for workshop equipment?
The HS code for workshop equipment is subheading 8205.90. It sits in HS chapter 82 (tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof, of base metal). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8205 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
More trade data for South Africa
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.