What is an anti-dumping duty in South Africa?

An anti-dumping duty is an extra customs duty ITAC and SARS impose on specific products from specific countries (and often specific producers) that are sold into South Africa below fair value. It is charged on top of the ordinary customs duty and can run from roughly 20% to over 160%. It is frequently payable as a provisional payment — a cash amount to SARS, not deferred duty — which is why it blindsides importers’ cash flow.

How do I know if my product needs an ITAC import permit?

About 276 tariff lines are under import control in South Africa and require an ITAC import permit for new goods. Separately, ALL used or second-hand goods require an import permit regardless of the tariff code. This checker flags both: enter your product or HS code and set the new/used toggle. Always confirm against ITAC’s import-control list before ordering.

Is this tool a SARS tariff determination?

No. The results are indicative guidance drawn from public SARS and ITAC documents and are not a tariff determination under Section 47(9) of the Customs & Excise Act, 1964. The importer remains solely responsible for correct classification, and only a formal written determination from SARS is binding.

How is import VAT calculated on top of duty?

South Africa charges 15% import VAT on the Added Tax Value (ATV): the customs value uplifted by 10% (for non-SACU imports) plus customs duty plus any anti-dumping or safeguard duty. So duties are effectively taxed again through VAT — this tool’s estimate uses the same ATV method as our Duty & VAT Calculator.

How current is the anti-dumping data?

Anti-dumping and safeguard measures change every few weeks by Government Gazette. This dataset shows a “data current as of” date and uses cautious “may carry — verify” wording throughout. Always re-check the current SARS Schedule 2 close to your order date, or use the watchlist to be emailed when a code’s status changes.

SA Import Risk Checker — Anti-Dumping & Permits

Check your import

Product description or HS / tariff code Try a keyword or an 8-digit tariff code.

Country of origin

Order value (optional, for VAT estimate)

These goods are used / second-hand (condition changes the permit rule)

HS 4407.12 Sawn softwood timber (pine & fir)

Origin: China · new

Duty found via our HS-code directory — trade-remedy detail isn’t tracked for this heading yet.

View the full duty & classification page for HS 4407.12 →

Trade-remedy status not tracked for this code — verify

This heading is in our HS-code directory but not in our curated anti-dumping watch set, so we can’t flag anti-dumping or safeguard exposure from China. Check the current SARS Schedule 2 before ordering — measures change every few weeks.

Permit status not tracked for this code — verify with ITAC

We don’t track import-control status for this heading. About 276 tariff lines need an ITAC import permit for new goods — confirm against the current ITAC import-control list before ordering. (Any used/second-hand version always needs a permit.)

Base customs duty + 15% VAT

General customs duty for HS 4407.12 (Sawn softwood timber (pine & fir)) is approximately 0%. Import VAT of 15% is then charged on the Added Tax Value (customs value + 10% uplift + all duties).

Get the full PDF risk report

A shareable, dated summary of your import’s duty, permit and anti-dumping exposure.

Watch this code for changes

Schedule 2 changes every few weeks. We’ll email you if the anti-dumping or permit status of this code shifts.

Next: your full landed cost

Add freight, insurance and clearing for the exact figure you’ll pay at the port.

Open Duty & VAT Calculator →

Source from a vetted supplier

A verified customs broker can confirm classification and cut surprise duty.

Find a customs broker →

Avoided the duty surprise? The next risk is demurrage.

With 60+ vessels queuing off Durban, a held container racks up storage and demurrage fast. Realview SCM tracks your shipment in real time so the next surprise doesn’t bite either.

Explore Realview SCM →

Important — read before you rely on this Data current as of 2026-07-17

These results are indicative guidance compiled from public SARS and ITAC documents. They are not a tariff determination under Section 47(9) of the Customs & Excise Act, 1964. Anti-dumping and safeguard rates are producer-specific and change frequently between provisional and final. The importer remains solely responsible for correct tariff classification, and only a formal written determination from SARS is binding. Always verify against the current SARS Schedule 2 and the ITAC import-control list before committing to an order.

Why this matters

South African SMME importers most often get blindsided by three costs that no single tool surfaces together:

Anti-dumping / safeguard duties — can add 20–166%+ on top of ordinary duty, and a provisional payment is paid in cash to SARS, not deferred.
ITAC import permits — about 276 tariff lines are controlled, and all used/second-hand goods need a permit. Missing one means goods are held and penalised.
Base duty + 15% VAT — VAT is charged on the Added Tax Value (customs value + 10% uplift + duties), so duties are effectively taxed again.

This checker tracks trade-remedy detail for 53 of the highest-risk, highest-traffic codes, and falls back to our HS-code directory (265+ codes) for indicative duty on everything else. For a full landed cost use the Duty & VAT Calculator, and verify permits with ITAC.