Carbonate imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of carbonate by Zambia reached $7.8 million in 2024 (17.4 thousand tonnes). Value fell 32% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 23% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $112.4 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 | $7.8M | 17.4K t |
| 2023 | $11.5M | 20.9K t |
| 2022 | $12.5M | 17.5K t |
| 2021 | $6.1M | 13.1K t |
| 2020 | $4.4M | 13.8K t |
| 2019 | $8.9M | 15.5K t |
| 2018 | $112.4M | 57.7K t |
| 2017 | $47.3M | 11.8K t |
Where Zambia imports carbonate from
South Africa alone supplied 71% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $5.6M | 71% |
| China | $968K | 12% |
| Botswana | $404K | 5.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $291K | 3.7% |
| Thailand | $171K | 2.2% |
| India | $146K | 1.9% |
| Vietnam | $85K | 1.1% |
| Kenya | $34K | 0.4% |
| Germany | $33K | 0.4% |
| Tanzania | $30K | 0.4% |
Product types under HS 2836
| 2836.20 | Soda ash | 67% |
| 2836.50 | Calcium carbonate | 15% |
| 2836.30 | Sodium bicarbonate | 11% |
| 2836.99 | Carbonates (other) | 5.8% |
| 2836.40 | Potassium carbonate | 0.6% |
| 2836.91 | Lithium carbonate | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2836.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.45 per kg, close to the world average of $0.45.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Carbonate exports from Zambia
Exports of carbonate by Zambia reached $1.7 million in 2024 (10.4 thousand tonnes). South Africa alone took 57% of it. Among the main buyer markets, South Africa grew fastest (+58% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $967K | 57% |
| Zimbabwe | $229K | 14% |
| Tanzania | $205K | 12% |
| Malawi | $127K | 7.5% |
| Mozambique | $102K | 6% |
| DR Congo | $70K | 4.1% |
| Botswana | $2K | 0.1% |
| Portugal | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia carbonate imports (HS 2836): 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 2836: Carbonates; peroxocarbonates (percarbonates); commercial ammonium carbonate containing ammonium carbamate.
Common questions
What is the value of carbonate imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported carbonate worth $7.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 17.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 92nd of 215 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 32% on 2023.
Which countries supply carbonate to Zambia?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 71% of the value ($5.6 million), followed by China (12%) and Botswana (5%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 25 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 112% on the year.
What is the average import price of carbonate per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.45 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $0.45 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of carbonate to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $47.3 million in 2017 to $7.8 million in 2024, a fall of 83%. The peak was 2018 at $112.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $26.4 million a year.
Does Zambia also export carbonate?
Yes. Zambia exported $1.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. On balance Zambia is a net importer of this product, by about $6.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for carbonate?
The HS code for carbonate is heading 2836. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 2836.20 (67% of the value) and 2836.50 (15%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For Zambia, 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
Carbonate product types in Zambia
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