Phones and network equipment imports in Zimbabwe: data, top suppliers and prices
Zimbabwe imported $122.8 million of phones and network equipment in 2024 (1.4 thousand tonnes). Value fell 6% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2017, at $157.5 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 | $122.8M | 1.4K t |
| 2023 | $130.8M | 1.7K t |
| 2022 | $57.3M | 1.1K t |
| 2021 | $77.9M | 807 t |
| 2020 | $50.9M | 367 t |
| 2019 | $28.4M | 402 t |
| 2018 | $58.2M | 554 t |
| 2017 | $157.5M | 834 t |
Where Zimbabwe imports phones and network equipment from
China alone supplied 57% of it. Among the main suppliers, Israel grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $70.2M | 57% |
| Hong Kong | $15.1M | 12% |
| South Africa | $12.4M | 10% |
| United States | $5.3M | 4.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $4.4M | 3.6% |
| United Kingdom | $4.0M | 3.2% |
| Israel | $3.6M | 2.9% |
| Lithuania | $1.9M | 1.6% |
| Singapore | $1.4M | 1.1% |
| Sweden | $1.3M | 1% |
Product types under HS 8517
| 8517.61 | Base stations | 42% |
| 8517.62 | Transmission and switching apparatus | 39% |
| 8517.12 | Mobile phones | 14% |
| 8517.69 | Communication apparatus (other) | 3% |
| 8517.70 | Telephone and communication parts | 1.7% |
| 8517.18 | Telephone sets (other) | 0.2% |
| 8517.11 | Cordless telephones | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8517.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $85.35 per kg, 64% below the world average of $239.13, 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.
Phones and network equipment exports from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe exported $541 thousand of phones and network equipment in 2024 (27 tonnes). Most of it went to Zambia (21%), South Africa (14%), Hungary (14%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 49%. Among the main buyer markets, Hungary grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $113K | 21% |
| South Africa | $78K | 14% |
| Hungary | $75K | 14% |
| Hong Kong | $65K | 12% |
| United States | $61K | 11% |
| Philippines | $44K | 8.1% |
| Tanzania | $44K | 8% |
| Israel | $43K | 7.9% |
| Germany | $7K | 1.2% |
| Australia | $3K | 0.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in Zimbabwe?
The shipment records behind Zimbabwe phones and network equipment imports (HS 8517): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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: Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular/wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data (including wired/wireless networks), excluding items of 8443, 8525, 8527, or 8528.
Common questions
What is the value of phones and network equipment imported by Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe imported phones and network equipment worth $122.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 116th of 226 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 6% on 2023.
Which countries supply phones and network equipment to Zimbabwe?
China was the largest supplier with 57% of the value ($70.2 million), followed by Hong Kong (12%) and South Africa (10%). The top three together account for 80%, out of 61 supplier countries in total. The United States grew fastest among the top ten, up 841% on the year.
What is the average import price of phones and network equipment per kg?
The average declared import value was about $85.35 per kg in 2024, 64% below the world average of $239.13 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of phones and network equipment to Zimbabwe changed since 2017?
Imports went from $157.5 million in 2017 to $122.8 million in 2024, a fall of 22%. The peak was 2017 at $157.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $85.5 million a year.
Does Zimbabwe also export phones and network equipment?
Yes. Zimbabwe exported $541 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, South Africa and Hungary. On balance Zimbabwe is a net importer of this product, by about $122.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for phones and network equipment?
The HS code for phones and network equipment is heading 8517. In Zimbabwe the largest six-digit codes were 8517.61 (42% of the value) and 8517.62 (39%).
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
World phones and network equipment trade: top importers and exporters
Phones and network equipment product types in Zimbabwe
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