Plastic building material imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Zambia imported plastic building material worth $2.4 million (780 tonnes). That is 24% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $3.7 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 | $2.4M | 780 t |
| 2023 | $2.0M | 744 t |
| 2022 | $1.8M | 676 t |
| 2021 | $1.8M | 959 t |
| 2020 | $1.2M | 303 t |
| 2019 | $3.7M | 790 t |
| 2018 | $2.3M | 853 t |
| 2017 | $2.1M | 479 t |
Where Zambia imports plastic building material from
One supplier dominates: South Africa accounted for 65% of the value. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+61% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $1.6M | 65% |
| China | $618K | 25% |
| Botswana | $61K | 2.5% |
| France | $40K | 1.7% |
| India | $23K | 0.9% |
| United Arab Emirates | $21K | 0.9% |
| Lebanon | $18K | 0.7% |
| Netherlands | $16K | 0.7% |
| Germany | $15K | 0.6% |
| Canada | $8K | 0.3% |
Product types under HS 3925
| 3925.10 | Plastic storage tanks | 46% |
| 3925.90 | Plastic building materials (other) | 40% |
| 3925.30 | Plastic blinds and shutters | 7.1% |
| 3925.20 | Plastic doors and windows | 7% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3925.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.12 per kg, 23% below the world average of $4.05, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Plastic building material exports from Zambia
In 2024, Zambia exported plastic building material worth $258 thousand (252 tonnes). DR Congo alone took 66% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Botswana grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $171K | 67% |
| Malawi | $33K | 13% |
| Zimbabwe | $33K | 13% |
| Botswana | $15K | 5.7% |
| Mozambique | $4K | 1.6% |
| South Africa | $2K | 0.9% |
| Namibia | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia plastic building material imports (HS 3925): 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 3925: Plastics; builders' wares n.e.c. or included.
Common questions
What is the value of plastic building material imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported plastic building material worth $2.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 780 tonnes. That ranks it 162nd of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 24% on 2023.
Which countries supply plastic building material to Zambia?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 65% of the value ($1.6 million), followed by China (25%) and Botswana (2%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 34 supplier countries in total. Lebanon grew fastest among the top ten, up 374% on the year.
What is the average import price of plastic building material per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.12 per kg in 2024, 23% below the world average of $4.05 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of plastic building material to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.1 million in 2017 to $2.4 million in 2024, an increase of 17%. The peak was 2019 at $3.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.2 million a year.
Does Zambia also export plastic building material?
Yes. Zambia exported $258 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Malawi and Zimbabwe. On balance Zambia is a net importer of this product, by about $2.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for plastic building material?
The HS code for plastic building material is heading 3925. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 3925.10 (46% of the value) and 3925.90 (40%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds Zambia trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World plastic building material trade: top importers and exporters
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