In January 2024, imports of wallpaper and wall coverings into South Africa surged to 122 tons, rising by 150% on December 2023. Over the period under review, imports enjoyed buoyant growth. As a result, imports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term. In value terms, wallpaper imports soared to $605K (IndexBox estimates) in January 2024. In general, imports posted a buoyant increase. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.
Imports by Country
In January 2024, China (88 tons) constituted the largest wallpaper supplier to South Africa, with a 72% share of total imports. Moreover, wallpaper imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, the UK (8.4 tons), tenfold. The third position in this ranking was taken by Germany (7.7 tons), with a 6.3% share. From January 2023 to January 2024, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of volume from China stood at +12.6%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: the UK (+2.4% per month) and Germany (-2.6% per month). In value terms, the largest wallpaper suppliers to South Africa were the United States ($224K), China ($120K) and the UK ($58K), together accounting for 66% of total imports. Among the main suppliers, the United States, with a CAGR of +26.6%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Imports by Type
Wallpaper and similar wall coverings, coated or covered on the face side, with a grained, embossed, coloured, design-printed or otherwise decorated layer of plastics (73 tons) and wallpaper and similar wall coverings and window transparencies, of paper, other than coated or decorated with plastics (49 tons) were the main products of wallpaper imports to South Africa. From January 2023 to January 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the major product types, was attained by wallpaper and similar wall coverings and window transparencies; of paper, n.e.s. (with a CAGR of +30.9%). In value terms, wallpaper and similar wall coverings, coated or covered on the face side, with a grained, embossed, coloured, design-printed or otherwise decorated layer of plastics ($517K) constituted the largest type of wallpaper supplied to South Africa, comprising 85% of total imports.
The second position in the ranking was held by wallpaper and similar wall coverings and window transparencies, of paper, other than coated or decorated with plastics ($88K), with a 15% share of total imports. Import Prices by Country In January 2024, the wallpaper price amounted to $4,964 per ton (CIF, South Africa), with an increase of 21% against the previous month. In general, the import price, however, continues to indicate a slight slump. The growth pace was the most rapid in August 2023 when the average import price increased by 67% m-o-m. The import price peaked at $8,308 per ton in February 2023; however, from March 2023 to January 2024, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure. Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin: the country with the highest price was the United States ($46,622 per ton), while the price for China ($1,370 per ton) was amongst the lowest. From January 2023 to January 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United States (+10.0%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced mixed trend patterns.
Source: https://www.indexbox.io/blog/south-africa-wallpaper-imports-january-2024/