Trade lane
What South Africa buys from Vietnam.
South Africa imported USD 1.0bn of manufactured and processed goods from Vietnam in 2024, down 3 per cent on 2022. That is 2 per cent of everything South Africa imported in these lines, and Vietnam is its number 13 source. Below: the 50 largest lines, the fastest growing, where Vietnam dominates, and where another country ships the same line for less a tonne.
Trade year 2024, compared with 2022. Unit values are customs values per tonne, declared at the border, not product prices.
USD 1.0bnfrom Vietnam in 2024 (USD 1.0bn in 2022)
2 per centof South Africa's imports in these lines, USD 68bn from every source
88product lines worth USD 1m or more on this lane
#13Vietnam's rank among South Africa's sources
The top 50
The largest lines on the lane, by 2024 value.
Each line shows what South Africa paid Vietnam for it at the border, Vietnam's share of everything South Africa imported in that line, how it changed since 2022, and the customs unit value per tonne where the weight is recorded. Together they are 85 per cent of the lane.
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1
Telephone sets: smartphones for cellular or other wireless networksHS 851713
Share of South Africa's imports12 per cent, 91 source countriesChangedown 41 per cent on 2022 (USD 367m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 217min 2024 -
2
Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other...HS 851762
Share of South Africa's imports7 per cent, 107 source countriesChangeup 127 per cent on 2022 (USD 34m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 77min 2024 -
3
Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens: of liquid crystals, without drivers or control circuitsHS 852411
Share of South Africa's imports83 per cent, 24 source countriesChangeup 34 per cent on 2022 (USD 33m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 44min 2024 -
4
Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a displayHS 847130
Share of South Africa's imports4 per cent, 101 source countriesChangeup 208 per cent on 2022 (USD 14m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 44min 2024 -
5
Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329
Share of South Africa's imports83 per cent, 18 source countriesChangeup 28 per cent on 2022 (USD 32m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 42 a tonne, 985,970 tonnesUSD 41min 2024 -
6
Footwear: (other than sportswear), with outer soles of rubber or plastics and uppers of textile materialsHS 640419
Share of South Africa's imports21 per cent, 84 source countriesChangedown 43 per cent on 2022 (USD 68m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 39min 2024 -
7
Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, (not covering the ankle), outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather, uppers of leatherHS 640399
Share of South Africa's imports24 per cent, 103 source countriesChangeup 38 per cent on 2022 (USD 28m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 39min 2024 -
8
Sports footwear: tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes and the like, with outer soles of rubber or plastics and uppers of textile materialsHS 640411
Share of South Africa's imports50 per cent, 79 source countriesChangedown 29 per cent on 2022 (USD 54m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 38min 2024 -
9
Printing, copying, and facsimile machines: machines which perform two or more of the functions of printing, copying or facsimile transmission, capable of connecting to...HS 844331
Share of South Africa's imports29 per cent, 43 source countriesChangeup 13 per cent on 2022 (USD 26m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 29min 2024 -
10
Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plasticsHS 640299
Share of South Africa's imports7 per cent, 79 source countriesChangedown 13 per cent on 2022 (USD 28m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 24min 2024 -
11
Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorriesHS 401120
Share of South Africa's imports8 per cent, 35 source countriesChangefrom USD 3m in 2022Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 20min 2024 -
12
Headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakersHS 851830
Share of South Africa's imports21 per cent, 78 source countriesChangeup 33 per cent on 2022 (USD 14m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 19min 2024 -
13
Printing machinery: parts and accessories, n.e.c. in item no. 8443.91HS 844399
Share of South Africa's imports6 per cent, 89 source countriesChangeup 26 per cent on 2022 (USD 15m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 77,882 a tonne, 242 tonnesUSD 19min 2024 -
14
Meters: electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters thereofHS 902830
Share of South Africa's imports35 per cent, 54 source countriesChangefrom USD 426k in 2022Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 13min 2024 -
15
Sports footwear: (other than ski-boots, snowboard boots or cross-country ski footwear), with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers...HS 640319
Share of South Africa's imports39 per cent, 67 source countriesChangeup 48 per cent on 2022 (USD 8m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 12min 2024 -
16
Electrical static convertersHS 850440
Share of South Africa's imports2 per cent, 113 source countriesChangeup 134 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 11min 2024 -
17
Sports footwear: (other than ski-boots, snowboard boots or cross-country ski footwear), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plasticsHS 640219
Share of South Africa's imports29 per cent, 55 source countriesChangeup 197 per cent on 2022 (USD 4m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 11min 2024 -
18
Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or...HS 854231
Share of South Africa's imports17 per cent, 75 source countriesChangeup 32 per cent on 2022 (USD 8m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 10min 2024 -
19
Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on motor cars (including station wagons and racing cars)HS 401110
Share of South Africa's imports4 per cent, 45 source countriesChangefrom USD 1m in 2022Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 10min 2024 -
20
Cases and containers: n.e.c. in heading 4202, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materialsHS 420292
Share of South Africa's imports9 per cent, 105 source countriesChangeup 37 per cent on 2022 (USD 6m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 20,206 a tonne, 414 tonnesUSD 8min 2024 -
21
Communication apparatus: parts, other than aerials and aerial reflectors of all kindsHS 851779
Share of South Africa's imports4 per cent, 82 source countriesChangedown 2 per cent on 2022 (USD 8m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 8min 2024 -
22
Units of automatic data processing machines: storage unitsHS 847170
Share of South Africa's imports5 per cent, 89 source countriesChangefrom USD 924k in 2022Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 8min 2024 -
23
Reception and transmission apparatus: for use with the apparatus of heading no. 8524 to 8528, excluding aerials and aerial reflectorsHS 852990
Share of South Africa's imports9 per cent, 72 source countriesChangedown 37 per cent on 2022 (USD 10m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 7min 2024 -
24
Monitors: other than cathode-ray tube: capable of directly connecting to and designed for use with an automatic data processing machine of heading 84.71HS 852852
Share of South Africa's imports10 per cent, 65 source countriesChangeup 178 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 6min 2024 -
25
Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, covering the ankle, outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather, uppers of leatherHS 640391
Share of South Africa's imports20 per cent, 75 source countriesChangedown 11 per cent on 2022 (USD 6m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 6min 2024 -
26
T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of textile materials (other than cotton), knitted or crochetedHS 610990
Share of South Africa's imports6 per cent, 122 source countriesChangeup 79 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 5min 2024 -
27
Electric accumulators: lead-acid, (other than for starting piston engines), including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)HS 850720
Share of South Africa's imports8 per cent, 58 source countriesChangedown 52 per cent on 2022 (USD 10m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 5min 2024 -
28
Loudspeakers: multiple, mounted in the same enclosureHS 851822
Share of South Africa's imports10 per cent, 47 source countriesChangeup 117 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 5min 2024 -
29
Cement: portland, white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252321
Share of South Africa's imports68 per cent, 12 source countriesChangeup 31 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 57 a tonne, 78,127 tonnesUSD 4min 2024 -
30
Loudspeakers: not mounted in their enclosuresHS 851829
Share of South Africa's imports12 per cent, 65 source countriesChangeup 34 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 4min 2024 -
31
Oral or dental hygiene preparations: dentifricesHS 330610
Share of South Africa's imports7 per cent, 51 source countriesChangeup 42 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 1,716 a tonne, 2,386 tonnesUSD 4min 2024 -
32
T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of cotton, knitted or crochetedHS 610910
Share of South Africa's imports2 per cent, 129 source countriesChangeup 8 per cent on 2022 (USD 4m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 4min 2024 -
33
Hearing aids (excluding parts and accessories)HS 902140
Share of South Africa's imports13 per cent, 45 source countriesChangeup 65 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 1.2m a tonne, 3.0 tonnesUSD 4min 2024 -
34
Meters: parts and accessories of gas, liquid, electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters thereofHS 902890
Share of South Africa's imports33 per cent, 44 source countriesChangefrom USD 97k in 2022Unit valueUSD 350,089 a tonne, 9.5 tonnesUSD 3min 2024 -
35
Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances: n.e.c. in heading no. 9018HS 901890
Share of South Africa's imports1 per cent, 117 source countriesChangeup 41 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
36
PhosphorusHS 280470
Share of South Africa's imports95 per cent, 9 source countriesChangedown 65 per cent on 2022 (USD 9m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
37
Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, fitted with connectorsHS 854442
Share of South Africa's imports3 per cent, 116 source countriesChangeup 1 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 131,650 a tonne, 25 tonnesUSD 3min 2024 -
38
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or...HS 950300
Share of South Africa's imports2 per cent, 109 source countriesChangedown 46 per cent on 2022 (USD 6m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 14,152 a tonne, 228 tonnesUSD 3min 2024 -
39
Sound recording or reproducing apparatus: using magnetic, optical or semiconductor media, n.e.c. in item no 8519.20, 8519.30 or 8519.50HS 851981
Share of South Africa's imports57 per cent, 35 source countriesChangeup 58 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 32,871 a tonne, 98 tonnesUSD 3min 2024 -
40
Cash registersHS 847050
Share of South Africa's imports6 per cent, 46 source countriesChangedown 84 per cent on 2022 (USD 20m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
41
Furniture: wooden, other than for office, kitchen or bedroom useHS 940360
Share of South Africa's imports7 per cent, 80 source countriesChangedown 40 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
42
Golf clubs: completeHS 950631
Share of South Africa's imports18 per cent, 33 source countriesChangeup 36 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
43
Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: men's or boys', of synthetic fibres (not knitted or crocheted)HS 620343
Share of South Africa's imports6 per cent, 96 source countriesChangeup 14 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
44
Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens: of other than liquid crystals or organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), without drivers...HS 852419
Share of South Africa's imports84 per cent, 20 source countriesChangedown 45 per cent on 2022 (USD 5m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
45
Units of automatic data processing machines: processing units other than those of item no. 8471.41 or 8471.49, whether or not containing in the same housing one or two...HS 847150
Share of South Africa's imports1 per cent, 72 source countriesChangefrom USD 10k in 2022Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
46
Hats and other headgear: knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed...HS 650500
Share of South Africa's imports5 per cent, 112 source countriesChangeup 58 per cent on 2022 (USD 2m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 39,356 a tonne, 72 tonnesUSD 3min 2024 -
47
Dextrins and other modified starchesHS 350510
Share of South Africa's imports5 per cent, 32 source countriesChangeup 297 per cent on 2022 (USD 709k in 2022)Unit valueUSD 752 a tonne, 3,742 tonnesUSD 3min 2024 -
48
Printing, copying, and facsimile machines: single-function printing, copying or facsimile machines, capable of connecting to an automatic data processing machine or to...HS 844332
Share of South Africa's imports4 per cent, 63 source countriesChangeup 3 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
49
Trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts: women's or girls', of synthetic fibres, knitted or crochetedHS 610463
Share of South Africa's imports7 per cent, 80 source countriesChangedown 15 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valuenot shown: weight missing or out of rangeUSD 3min 2024 -
50
Textile fabrics: tyrecord of high tenacity yarn of polyesterHS 590220
Share of South Africa's imports17 per cent, 14 source countriesChangedown 25 per cent on 2022 (USD 3m in 2022)Unit valueUSD 2,837 a tonne, 914 tonnesUSD 3min 2024
Fastest growing
The lines that grew most since 2022.
Lines worth at least USD 5m in 2022, ranked by growth to 2024 in current dollars. A fast rise can be a new product, a shift away from another source, or a price change; the record does not say which.
- Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a displayHS 847130USD 44m in 2024, up 208 per cent on 2022 (USD 14m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 4 per cent of the line.
- Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other...HS 851762USD 77m in 2024, up 127 per cent on 2022 (USD 34m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 7 per cent of the line.
- Sports footwear: (other than ski-boots, snowboard boots or cross-country ski footwear), with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers...HS 640319USD 12m in 2024, up 48 per cent on 2022 (USD 8m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 39 per cent of the line.
- Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, (not covering the ankle), outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather, uppers of leatherHS 640399USD 39m in 2024, up 38 per cent on 2022 (USD 28m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 24 per cent of the line.
- Cases and containers: n.e.c. in heading 4202, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materialsHS 420292USD 8m in 2024, up 37 per cent on 2022 (USD 6m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 9 per cent of the line.
- Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens: of liquid crystals, without drivers or control circuitsHS 852411USD 44m in 2024, up 34 per cent on 2022 (USD 33m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 83 per cent of the line.
- Headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakersHS 851830USD 19m in 2024, up 33 per cent on 2022 (USD 14m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 21 per cent of the line.
- Electronic integrated circuits: processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or...HS 854231USD 10m in 2024, up 32 per cent on 2022 (USD 8m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 17 per cent of the line.
- Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329USD 41m in 2024, up 28 per cent on 2022 (USD 32m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 83 per cent of the line.
- Printing machinery: parts and accessories, n.e.c. in item no. 8443.91HS 844399USD 19m in 2024, up 26 per cent on 2022 (USD 15m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 6 per cent of the line.
- Printing, copying, and facsimile machines: machines which perform two or more of the functions of printing, copying or facsimile transmission, capable of connecting to...HS 844331USD 29m in 2024, up 13 per cent on 2022 (USD 26m in 2022). Vietnam supplies 29 per cent of the line.
Where Vietnam dominates
Lines where Vietnam supplies 60 per cent or more.
The largest lines worth USD 1m or more where Vietnam ships at least 60 per cent of what South Africa imports. This is supply concentration: how much of the line depends on one source country.
- Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens: of liquid crystals, without drivers or control circuitsHS 85241183 per cent of South Africa's imports of the line, USD 44m; 24 source countries in all.
- Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 25232983 per cent of South Africa's imports of the line, USD 41m; 18 source countries in all.
- Cement: portland, white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 25232168 per cent of South Africa's imports of the line, USD 4m; 12 source countries in all.
- PhosphorusHS 28047095 per cent of South Africa's imports of the line, USD 3m; 9 source countries in all.
- Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens: of other than liquid crystals or organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), without drivers...HS 85241984 per cent of South Africa's imports of the line, USD 3m; 20 source countries in all.
- Molybdenum oxides and hydroxidesHS 28257088 per cent of South Africa's imports of the line, USD 1m; 8 source countries in all.
Another source, lower unit value
Where another country ships the same line for at least 20 per cent less a tonne.
Lines worth USD 5m or more where Vietnam's unit value is recorded and another country also ships at least USD 5m of the same line to South Africa at a unit value at least 20 per cent lower. The largest such source is named. The same heading can hold different grades, so a lower figure is a question to ask, not a like-for-like price.
- Printing machinery: parts and accessories, n.e.c. in item no. 8443.91HS 844399Vietnam: USD 19m at USD 77,882 a tonne. Germany: USD 12m (4 per cent of the line) at USD 46,502 a tonne, 40 per cent lower. Middle of all sources: USD 79,213 a tonne.
- Cases and containers: n.e.c. in heading 4202, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materialsHS 420292Vietnam: USD 8m at USD 20,206 a tonne. Indonesia: USD 6m (6 per cent of the line) at USD 16,041 a tonne, 21 per cent lower. Middle of all sources: USD 20,700 a tonne.
The other side of the lane
What South Africa buys from everyone, and what it is placed to make.
What this record says
What crossed the border, what it was worth, and what it weighed.
Every figure on this page is from CEPII's BACI file, which reconciles what each pair of countries reports to the UN about the same shipment. Trade year 2024, compared with 2022. A line is one six-digit customs heading (HS 2022). Values are in US dollars at the border; growth is in current dollars, so part of any change is price, not volume.
Unit value. Unit values are customs values per tonne, declared at the border, not product prices. It is the value of a line divided by its declared weight, so it mixes grades, models and qualities under one heading. It is shown only where the weight is recorded, at least three source countries of USD 100k or more ship the line to South Africa with a weight, and the figure sits within a factor of five of the middle of those sources. Outside that band it is treated as a recording problem and left out.
Share is Vietnam's part of everything South Africa imported in that line, from every source. Sources counts the countries that shipped any of it.
Scope. Manufactured and processed goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, without ores, fuels, precious metals, scrap, raw farm output and one-off capital and defence purchases: the same rule as the Made here pages.
What it does not say
A record of trade, not a shopping list.
What this record does not say: what sells at retail, what margin a trade leaves, how crowded the marketplaces are, or how much of a flow is re-exported through entrepots such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
A large line is not proof of an opening, and a lower unit value from another country is not proof the goods are the same. Tariffs, standards, freight, payment terms, lead times and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. Nothing on this page is a forecast, a recommendation or a promise. No supplier company is named, because the record holds none.
Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601. Edition of 2026-11-03.
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