Plywood imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of plywood by Zambia reached $2.6 million in 2024 (4.0 thousand tonnes). That is 18% less 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
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.6M | 4.0K t |
| 2023 | $3.2M | 4.2K t |
| 2022 | $2.8M | 4.0K t |
| 2021 | $2.1M | 3.2K t |
| 2020 | $2.0M | 2.3K t |
| 2019 | $2.9M | 3.0K t |
| 2018 | $3.2M | 3.5K t |
| 2017 | $3.0M | 2.8K t |
Where Zambia imports plywood from
Tanzania alone supplied 58% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $1.5M | 58% |
| Malawi | $740K | 28% |
| China | $150K | 5.7% |
| South Africa | $134K | 5.1% |
| India | $68K | 2.6% |
| Kenya | $15K | 0.6% |
| Hong Kong | $0K | 0% |
| Namibia | $0K | 0% |
| Indonesia | $0K | 0% |
Product types under HS 4412
| 4412.99 | Laminated wood panels (other) | 70% |
| 4412.39 | Softwood plywood | 20% |
| 4412.10 | Bamboo plywood | 6% |
| 4412.33 | Hardwood plywood | 1.9% |
| 4412.31 | Tropical plywood | 1.5% |
| 4412.34 | Plywood (non-coniferous, other) | 0.5% |
| 4412.94 | Blockboard and laminboard | 0.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 4412.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.66 per kg, 29% below the world average of $0.93, 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.
Plywood exports from Zambia
Zambia exported $252 thousand of plywood in 2024 (282 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: DR Congo accounted for 99% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $250K | 99% |
| Malawi | $2K | 0.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia plywood imports (HS 4412): 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 4412: Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood.
Common questions
What is the value of plywood imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported plywood worth $2.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 143rd of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 18% on 2023.
Which countries supply plywood to Zambia?
Tanzania was the largest supplier with 58% of the value ($1.5 million), followed by Malawi (28%) and China (6%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 9 supplier countries in total. Kenya grew fastest among the top ten, up 82% on the year.
What is the average import price of plywood per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.66 per kg in 2024, 29% below the world average of $0.93 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of plywood to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $3.0 million in 2017 to $2.6 million in 2024, a fall of 12%. The peak was 2023 at $3.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.7 million a year.
Does Zambia also export plywood?
Yes. Zambia exported $252 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo and Malawi. On balance Zambia is a net importer of this product, by about $2.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for plywood?
The HS code for plywood is heading 4412. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 4412.99 (70% of the value) and 4412.39 (20%).
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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