Mobile phones imports in Zimbabwe: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Zimbabwe imported mobile phones worth $17.3 million (169 tonnes). That is 18% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2020, at $33.4 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 | $17.3M | 169 t |
| 2023 | $21.2M | 379 t |
| 2022 | $17.6M | 507 t |
| 2021 | $33.2M | 361 t |
| 2020 | $33.4M | 111 t |
| 2019 | $9.8M | 77 t |
| 2018 | $8.0M | 132 t |
| 2017 | $12.3M | 16 t |
Where Zimbabwe imports mobile phones from
China alone supplied 50% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+279% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $8.7M | 50% |
| South Africa | $3.6M | 21% |
| Hong Kong | $3.0M | 18% |
| United Arab Emirates | $1.5M | 8.5% |
| Denmark | $147K | 0.9% |
| Ethiopia | $110K | 0.6% |
| United Kingdom | $54K | 0.3% |
| United States | $50K | 0.3% |
| Germany | $43K | 0.3% |
| Nigeria | $14K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $102.44 per kg, 68% below the world average of $321.06, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in Zimbabwe?
The shipment records behind Zimbabwe mobile phones imports (HS 8517.12): 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 8517.12: Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.
Common questions
What is the value of mobile phones imported by Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe imported mobile phones worth $17.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 169 tonnes. That ranks it 139th of 220 countries worldwide. The value was down 18% on 2023.
Which countries supply mobile phones to Zimbabwe?
China was the largest supplier with 50% of the value ($8.7 million), followed by South Africa (21%) and Hong Kong (18%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 38 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 279% on the year.
What is the average import price of mobile phones per kg?
The average declared import value was about $102.44 per kg in 2024, 68% below the world average of $321.06 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of mobile phones to Zimbabwe changed since 2017?
Imports went from $12.3 million in 2017 to $17.3 million in 2024, an increase of 41%. The peak was 2020 at $33.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $19.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for mobile phones?
The HS code for mobile phones is subheading 8517.12. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8517 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For Zimbabwe, 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
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