Storage media imports in Zimbabwe: data, top suppliers and prices
Zimbabwe imported $9.4 million of storage media in 2024 (120 tonnes). That is 51% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 16% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $19.1 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 | $9.4M | 120 t |
| 2023 | $19.1M | 147 t |
| 2022 | $10.0M | 149 t |
| 2021 | $6.8M | 149 t |
| 2020 | $6.2M | 121 t |
| 2019 | $8.0M | 156 t |
| 2018 | $8.7M | 258 t |
| 2017 | $3.3M | 106 t |
Where Zimbabwe imports storage media from
The largest suppliers were South Africa (46%), United Kingdom (10%), China (9%). Among the main suppliers, Germany grew fastest (+599% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $4.3M | 46% |
| United Kingdom | $965K | 10% |
| China | $868K | 9.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $828K | 8.9% |
| Egypt | $514K | 5.5% |
| Germany | $469K | 5% |
| United States | $222K | 2.4% |
| Denmark | $165K | 1.8% |
| Hong Kong | $163K | 1.7% |
| Taiwan | $141K | 1.5% |
Product types under HS 8523
| 8523.52 | Smart cards | 46% |
| 8523.49 | Recorded optical discs | 32% |
| 8523.51 | Solid-state storage devices | 7.7% |
| 8523.80 | Storage media (other) | 6.1% |
| 8523.21 | Magnetic stripe cards | 6% |
| 8523.29 | Magnetic tape media | 1.4% |
| 8523.59 | Semiconductor storage media (other) | 1.2% |
| 8523.41 | Blank optical discs | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8523.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $78.06 per kg, 59% below the world average of $190.33, 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 storage media imports (HS 8523): 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 8523: Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, smart cards and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, excluding products of Chapter 37.
Common questions
What is the value of storage media imported by Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe imported storage media worth $9.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 120 tonnes. That ranks it 112th of 222 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 51% on 2023.
Which countries supply storage media to Zimbabwe?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 46% of the value ($4.3 million), followed by the United Kingdom (10%) and China (9%). The top three together account for 66%, out of 45 supplier countries in total. Germany grew fastest among the top ten, up 599% on the year.
What is the average import price of storage media per kg?
The average declared import value was about $78.06 per kg in 2024, 59% below the world average of $190.33 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of storage media to Zimbabwe changed since 2017?
Imports went from $3.3 million in 2017 to $9.4 million in 2024, an increase of 184%. The peak was 2023 at $19.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $8.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for storage media?
The HS code for storage media is heading 8523. In Zimbabwe the largest six-digit codes were 8523.52 (46% of the value) and 8523.49 (32%).
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
Storage media product types in Zimbabwe
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