General lubricant imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of general lubricant by Zambia reached $4.0 million in 2024 (742 tonnes). That is 39% more than in 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
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4.0M | 742 t |
| 2023 | $2.9M | 597 t |
| 2022 | $3.4M | 692 t |
| 2021 | $3.7M | 825 t |
| 2020 | $3.8M | 929 t |
| 2019 | $3.3M | 847 t |
| 2018 | $3.3M | 664 t |
| 2017 | $2.9M | 631 t |
Where Zambia imports general lubricant from
One supplier dominates: South Africa accounted for 78% of the value. Among the main suppliers, United Arab Emirates grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $3.1M | 78% |
| Belgium | $360K | 9.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $191K | 4.8% |
| Germany | $124K | 3.1% |
| France | $96K | 2.4% |
| Turkey | $41K | 1% |
| China | $25K | 0.6% |
| Netherlands | $7K | 0.2% |
| Sweden | $6K | 0.2% |
| Japan | $4K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.35 per kg, close to the world average of $4.90.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
General lubricant exports from Zambia
Exports of general lubricant by Zambia reached $498 thousand in 2024 (1.4 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: DR Congo accounted for 100% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest (+81% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $498K | 100% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia general lubricant imports (HS 3403.19): 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 3403.19: Lubricating preparations: (other than for the treatment of textile and similar materials), containing less than 70% (by weight) of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals.
Common questions
What is the value of general lubricant imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported general lubricant worth $4.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 742 tonnes. That ranks it 86th of 222 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 39% on 2023.
Which countries supply general lubricant to Zambia?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 78% of the value ($3.1 million), followed by Belgium (9%) and the United Arab Emirates (5%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 17 supplier countries in total. Germany grew fastest among the top ten, up 185% on the year.
What is the average import price of general lubricant per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.35 per kg in 2024, 9% above the world average of $4.90 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of general lubricant to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.9 million in 2017 to $4.0 million in 2024, an increase of 35%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $3.4 million a year.
Does Zambia also export general lubricant?
Yes. Zambia exported $498 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo. On balance Zambia is a net importer of this product, by about $3.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for general lubricant?
The HS code for general lubricant is subheading 3403.19. It sits in HS chapter 34 (soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3403 page.
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.
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