Recovered paper — Export quantity in South Africa
South Africa: Recovered paper — Export quantity was 205,725 t in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Recovered paper — Export quantity in South Africa, 1974–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 205,725 t for recovered paper — export quantity in 2024. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of up 22.7% on the previous year and up 271.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, recovered paper — export quantity in South Africa peaked at 205,725 t in 2024 and was at its lowest, 139 t, in 1974.
South Africa ranks 36th of 221 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Recovered paper — Export quantity in South Africa, year by year
| Year | t | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 139 t | — |
| 1975 | 4,659 t | +3251.8% |
| 1976 | 2,562 t | -45.0% |
| 1977 | 3,800 t | +48.3% |
| 1978 | 4,000 t | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 5,000 t | +25.0% |
| 1980 | 6,000 t | +20.0% |
| 1981 | 4,500 t | -25.0% |
| 1982 | 3,000 t | -33.3% |
| 1983 | 3,300 t | +10.0% |
| 1984 | 1,400 t | -57.6% |
| 1985 | 1,400 t | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 9,508 t | +579.1% |
| 1987 | 4,473 t | -53.0% |
| 1988 | 13,837 t | +209.3% |
| 1989 | 4,286 t | -69.0% |
| 1990 | 6,396 t | +49.2% |
| 1991 | 6,396 t | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 6,918 t | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 2,002 t | -71.1% |
| 1994 | 5,970 t | +198.2% |
| 1995 | 15,000 t | +151.3% |
| 1996 | 1,000 t | -93.3% |
| 1997 | 1,000 t | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 22,000 t | +2100.0% |
| 1999 | 13,200 t | -40.0% |
| 2000 | 13,200 t | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 13,200 t | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 12,900 t | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 20,620 t | +59.8% |
| 2004 | 18,555 t | -10.0% |
| 2005 | 48,448 t | +161.1% |
| 2006 | 39,300 t | -18.9% |
| 2007 | 39,300 t | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 23,893 t | -39.2% |
| 2009 | 14,863 t | -37.8% |
| 2010 | 50,572 t | +240.3% |
| 2011 | 71,541 t | +41.5% |
| 2012 | 103,092 t | +44.1% |
| 2013 | 98,699 t | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 55,398 t | -43.9% |
| 2015 | 49,069 t | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 105,620 t | +115.2% |
| 2017 | 120,920 t | +14.5% |
| 2018 | 155,086 t | +28.3% |
| 2019 | 95,472 t | -38.4% |
| 2020 | 99,392 t | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 144,836 t | +45.7% |
| 2022 | 156,238 t | +7.9% |
| 2023 | 167,683 t | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 205,725 t | +22.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 205,725 t is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,133 t, 33.5× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 205,725 t is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 191 t, 1077.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Recovered paper — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +3251.8% | 139 t | 4,659 t |
| 1998 | +2100.0% | 1,000 t | 22,000 t |
| 1986 | +579.1% | 1,400 t | 9,508 t |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,360 t | 139 t | 5,000 t | 6 |
| 1980s | 5,170 t | 1,400 t | 13,837 t | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,988 t | 1,000 t | 22,000 t | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,428 t | 12,900 t | 48,448 t | 10 |
| 2010s | 90,547 t | 49,069 t | 155,086 t | 10 |
| 2020s | 154,775 t | 99,392 t | 205,725 t | 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 recovered paper — export quantity in South Africa?
- Recovered paper — export quantity in South Africa was 205,725 t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest recovered paper — export quantity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 205,725 t in 2024.
- What is the lowest recovered paper — export quantity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 139 t in 1974.
- How does South Africa rank for recovered paper — export quantity?
- South Africa ranks 36th out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
- Is recovered paper — export quantity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 271.4%. 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 Recovered paper — Export quantity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 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