Paper and paperboard — Export quantity in South Africa
South Africa: Paper and paperboard — Export quantity was 490,808 t in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Paper and paperboard — Export quantity in South Africa, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 490,808 t for paper and paperboard — export quantity in 2024.
The figure is up 30.0% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, paper and paperboard — export quantity in South Africa peaked at 956,233 t in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5,900 t, in 1962.
That places South Africa 47th out of 243 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Paper and paperboard — Export quantity in South Africa, year by year
| Year | t | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 9,400 t | — |
| 1962 | 5,900 t | -37.2% |
| 1963 | 6,700 t | +13.6% |
| 1964 | 29,300 t | +337.3% |
| 1965 | 18,700 t | -36.2% |
| 1966 | 31,300 t | +67.4% |
| 1967 | 29,700 t | -5.1% |
| 1968 | 40,300 t | +35.7% |
| 1969 | 34,200 t | -15.1% |
| 1970 | 22,100 t | -35.4% |
| 1971 | 16,300 t | -26.2% |
| 1972 | 30,200 t | +85.3% |
| 1973 | 92,000 t | +204.6% |
| 1974 | 78,100 t | -15.1% |
| 1975 | 65,900 t | -15.6% |
| 1976 | 123,100 t | +86.8% |
| 1977 | 171,600 t | +39.4% |
| 1978 | 176,400 t | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 154,400 t | -12.5% |
| 1980 | 137,500 t | -10.9% |
| 1981 | 152,800 t | +11.1% |
| 1982 | 183,400 t | +20.0% |
| 1983 | 156,100 t | -14.9% |
| 1984 | 181,400 t | +16.2% |
| 1985 | 283,000 t | +56.0% |
| 1986 | 362,438 t | +28.1% |
| 1987 | 379,091 t | +4.6% |
| 1988 | 326,679 t | -13.8% |
| 1989 | 142,581 t | -56.4% |
| 1990 | 119,158 t | -16.4% |
| 1991 | 119,158 t | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 338,291 t | +183.9% |
| 1993 | 327,797 t | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 566,228 t | +72.7% |
| 1995 | 521,200 t | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 466,900 t | -10.4% |
| 1997 | 315,100 t | -32.5% |
| 1998 | 552,000 t | +75.2% |
| 1999 | 568,900 t | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 573,889 t | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 757,155 t | +31.9% |
| 2002 | 636,600 t | -15.9% |
| 2003 | 891,272 t | +40.0% |
| 2004 | 941,484 t | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 893,637 t | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 747,693 t | -16.3% |
| 2007 | 904,309 t | +20.9% |
| 2008 | 956,233 t | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 686,917 t | -28.2% |
| 2010 | 631,657 t | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 494,463 t | -21.7% |
| 2012 | 503,640 t | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 447,560 t | -11.1% |
| 2014 | 490,910 t | +9.7% |
| 2015 | 514,465 t | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 555,598 t | +8.0% |
| 2017 | 516,656 t | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 554,723 t | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 429,737 t | -22.5% |
| 2020 | 491,939 t | +14.5% |
| 2021 | 419,180 t | -14.8% |
| 2022 | 335,934 t | -19.9% |
| 2023 | 377,656 t | +12.4% |
| 2024 | 490,808 t | +30.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 490,808 t is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,762 t, 278.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 490,808 t is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 225.5 t, 2176.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Paper and paperboard — Export quantity in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +337.3% | 6,700 t | 29,300 t |
| 1973 | +204.6% | 30,200 t | 92,000 t |
| 1992 | +183.9% | 119,158 t | 338,291 t |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22,833 t | 5,900 t | 40,300 t | 9 |
| 1970s | 93,010 t | 16,300 t | 176,400 t | 10 |
| 1980s | 230,499 t | 137,500 t | 379,091 t | 10 |
| 1990s | 389,473 t | 119,158 t | 568,900 t | 10 |
| 2000s | 798,919 t | 573,889 t | 956,233 t | 10 |
| 2010s | 513,941 t | 429,737 t | 631,657 t | 10 |
| 2020s | 423,103 t | 335,934 t | 491,939 t | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 1.3 hectares per person (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 69.19 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is paper and paperboard — export quantity in South Africa?
- Paper and paperboard — export quantity in South Africa was 490,808 t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest paper and paperboard — export quantity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 956,233 t in 2008.
- What is the lowest paper and paperboard — export quantity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,900 t in 1962.
- How does South Africa rank for paper and paperboard — export quantity?
- South Africa ranks 47th out of 243 countries with data for 2024.
- Is paper and paperboard — export quantity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Paper and paperboard — Export quantity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
The database contains data on the production and trade in roundwood and in primary wood and paper products for all countries and territories in the world.The main types of primary forest products included in this database are roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, pulp, and paper and paperboard. These products are detailed further and defined in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ) (https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en). The database contains details of the following topics: - roundwood removals (production) by coniferous and non-coniferous wood and assortments, - production and trade in industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood charcoal, pulp, paper and paperboard, and other products. More detailed information on wood products, including definitions, can be found at: https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en