Plastic waste exports in South Africa
South Africa: Plastic waste exports was 44,367 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in South Africa is 44,367 tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in South Africa peaked at 44,367 tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 18th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,587 tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 1,343 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2002 | 2,248 tonnes | +67.4% |
| 2003 | 1,509 tonnes | -32.9% |
| 2004 | 1,927 tonnes | +27.6% |
| 2005 | 12,010 tonnes | +523.4% |
| 2006 | 6,500 tonnes | -45.9% |
| 2007 | 7,361 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 5,039 tonnes | -31.5% |
| 2009 | 5,575 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 9,404 tonnes | +68.7% |
| 2011 | 13,193 tonnes | +40.3% |
| 2012 | 15,090 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2013 | 18,944 tonnes | +25.5% |
| 2014 | 31,087 tonnes | +64.1% |
| 2015 | 17,723 tonnes | -43.0% |
| 2016 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 20,947 tonnes | — |
| 2018 | 11,390 tonnes | -45.6% |
| 2019 | 2,131 tonnes | -81.3% |
| 2020 | 2,079 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 1,547 tonnes | -25.6% |
| 2022 | 2,919 tonnes | +88.6% |
| 2023 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 44,367 tonnes | — |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 44,367 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 41.6× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 44,367 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 40.7× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +523.4% | 1,927 tonnes | 12,010 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,510 tonnes | 1,343 tonnes | 12,010 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,991 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 31,087 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,183 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 44,367 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- 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)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.59 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.2953 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in South Africa?
- Plastic waste exports in South Africa was 44,367 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 44,367 tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for plastic waste exports?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.