Lubricant imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of lubricant by Zambia reached $8.1 million in 2024 (1.7 thousand tonnes). That is 38% 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 | $8.1M | 1.7K t |
| 2023 | $5.9M | 1.7K t |
| 2022 | $5.7M | 1.5K t |
| 2021 | $5.5M | 1.7K t |
| 2020 | $6.0M | 2.1K t |
| 2019 | $4.8M | 1.5K t |
| 2018 | $5.3M | 1.3K t |
| 2017 | $4.9M | 1.1K t |
Where Zambia imports lubricant from
One supplier dominates: South Africa accounted for 58% of the value. Among the main suppliers, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+531% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $4.7M | 59% |
| Kenya | $1.3M | 16% |
| Belgium | $511K | 6.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $433K | 5.3% |
| France | $316K | 3.9% |
| Germany | $174K | 2.1% |
| Turkey | $76K | 0.9% |
| China | $74K | 0.9% |
| Thailand | $73K | 0.9% |
| United States | $59K | 0.7% |
Product types under HS 3403
| 3403.19 | General lubricant | 49% |
| 3403.99 | Non-petroleum lubricant | 44% |
| 3403.91 | Textile treatment oil | 6.7% |
| 3403.11 | Textile lubricant | 0.7% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3403.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.71 per kg, close to the world average of $4.73.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Lubricant exports from Zambia
Exports of lubricant by Zambia reached $1.5 million in 2024 (1.7 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: DR Congo accounted for 99% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $1.5M | 99% |
| Malawi | $8K | 0.5% |
| South Africa | $4K | 0.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $1K | 0% |
| Uganda | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia lubricant imports (HS 3403): 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: Lubricating preparations and those used in oil or grease treatment of textile and similar materials; excluding preparations containing 70% or more (by weight) of petroleum or bituminous mineral oils.
Common questions
What is the value of lubricant imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported lubricant worth $8.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 92nd of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 38% on 2023.
Which countries supply lubricant to Zambia?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 58% of the value ($4.7 million), followed by Kenya (16%) and Belgium (6%). The top three together account for 81%, out of 32 supplier countries in total. The United Arab Emirates grew fastest among the top ten, up 531% on the year.
What is the average import price of lubricant per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.71 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $4.73 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of lubricant to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.9 million in 2017 to $8.1 million in 2024, an increase of 67%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $5.8 million a year.
Does Zambia also export lubricant?
Yes. Zambia exported $1.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Malawi and South Africa. On balance Zambia is a net importer of this product, by about $6.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for lubricant?
The HS code for lubricant is heading 3403. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 3403.19 (49% of the value) and 3403.99 (44%).
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
Lubricant product types in Zambia
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