SADC: Plastic Bag Market 2024

Plastic Bag Market Size in SADC

The SADC plastic bag market reached $X in 2022, surging by 4% against the previous year. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +3.7% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Plastic Bag Production in SADC

In value terms, plastic bag production expanded to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +3.6% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 when the production volume increased by 24%. The level of production peaked at $X in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Plastic Bag Exports

Exports in SADC

In 2022, overseas shipments of plastic sacks and bags decreased by -5.7% to X tons for the first time since 2017, thus ending a four-year rising trend. Over the period under review, exports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 with an increase of 19%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2021, and then declined in the following year.

In value terms, plastic bag exports rose slightly to $X in 2022. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 16% against the previous year. The level of export peaked in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

Exports by Country

South Africa prevails in exports structure, reaching X tons, which was approx. 81% of total exports in 2022. It was distantly followed by Swaziland (X tons), comprising a 5.6% share of total exports. The following exporters - Botswana (X tons), Lesotho (X tons), Madagascar (X tons) and Namibia (X tons) - together made up 10% of total exports.

South Africa experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of exports of plastic sacks and bags. At the same time, Lesotho (+47.0%), Botswana (+4.9%) and Madagascar (+1.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Lesotho emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in SADC, with a CAGR of +47.0% from 2012-2022. Swaziland experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Namibia (-2.9%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Lesotho (+2.3 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total exports, while the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, South Africa ($X) remains the largest plastic bag supplier in SADC, comprising 85% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Botswana ($X), with a 4% share of total exports. It was followed by Swaziland, with a 3.6% share.

In South Africa, plastic bag exports expanded at an average annual rate of +2.1% over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Botswana (+1.2% per year) and Swaziland (-0.1% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in SADC amounted to $X per ton, picking up by 11% against the previous year. In general, the export price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 an increase of 30%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2018 to 2022, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Namibia ($X per ton), while Lesotho ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Madagascar (+1.8%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Plastic Bag Imports

Imports in SADC

In 2022, supplies from abroad of plastic sacks and bags increased by 2% to X tons, rising for the sixth year in a row after three years of decline. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.5% over the period from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 29% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons. From 2014 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, plastic bag imports reduced to $X in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the period from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when imports increased by 21%. As a result, imports attained the peak of $X, and then dropped in the following year.

Imports by Country

Angola (X tons) and South Africa (X tons) represented the largest importers of plastic sacks and bags in 2022, recording approx. 26% and 22% of total imports, respectively. It was distantly followed by Democratic Republic of the Congo (X tons), Mozambique (X tons) and Namibia (X tons), together constituting a 29% share of total imports. The following importers - Swaziland (X tons), Madagascar (X tons), Zimbabwe (X tons), Lesotho (X tons), Botswana (X tons), Zambia (X tons) and Tanzania (X tons) - together made up 20% of total imports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the key importing countries, was attained by Mozambique (with a CAGR of +16.0%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest plastic bag importing markets in SADC were South Africa ($X), Angola ($X) and Democratic Republic of the Congo ($X), with a combined 65% share of total imports.

Among the main importing countries, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a CAGR of +14.2%, saw 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.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in SADC amounted to $X per ton, dropping by -5.6% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price saw a slight curtailment. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 an increase of 10%. Over the period under review, import prices hit record highs at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was South Africa ($X per ton), while Mozambique ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Namibia (+1.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform