Polystyrene imports in Zambia: data, top suppliers and prices
Zambia imported $2.5 million of polystyrene in 2024 (1.4 thousand tonnes). Value rose 73% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 8% a year on average.
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 | $2.5M | 1.4K t |
| 2023 | $1.4M | 827 t |
| 2022 | $2.0M | 902 t |
| 2021 | $2.0M | 1.1K t |
| 2020 | $1.3M | 877 t |
| 2019 | $1.3M | 853 t |
| 2018 | $1.9M | 1.2K t |
| 2017 | $1.4M | 903 t |
Where Zambia imports polystyrene from
Most of the value came from South Africa (26%), Egypt (17%), South Korea (16%). Among the main suppliers, Taiwan grew fastest (+480% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $640K | 26% |
| Egypt | $425K | 17% |
| South Korea | $402K | 16% |
| Kenya | $310K | 13% |
| Taiwan | $276K | 11% |
| China | $188K | 7.6% |
| Thailand | $97K | 3.9% |
| United Arab Emirates | $85K | 3.4% |
| Hong Kong | $43K | 1.7% |
| India | $12K | 0.5% |
Product types under HS 3903
| 3903.90 | Styrene polymers (other) | 49% |
| 3903.19 | Polystyrene resin | 36% |
| 3903.20 | Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer | 10% |
| 3903.11 | Expandable polystyrene beads | 4.1% |
| 3903.30 | Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene | 1.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3903.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.77 per kg, close to the world average of $1.69.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in Zambia?
The shipment records behind Zambia polystyrene imports (HS 3903): 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 3903: Polymers of styrene, in primary forms.
Common questions
What is the value of polystyrene imported by Zambia?
Zambia imported polystyrene worth $2.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 115th of 212 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 73% on 2023.
Which countries supply polystyrene to Zambia?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 26% of the value ($640 thousand), followed by Egypt (17%) and South Korea (16%). The top three together account for 59%, out of 13 supplier countries in total. Taiwan grew fastest among the top ten, up 480% on the year.
What is the average import price of polystyrene per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.77 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.69 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of polystyrene to Zambia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.4 million in 2017 to $2.5 million in 2024, an increase of 75%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $1.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for polystyrene?
The HS code for polystyrene is heading 3903. In Zambia the largest six-digit codes were 3903.90 (49% of the value) and 3903.19 (36%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
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