This update releases new estimates of the purchase value of goods imported to St Helena during the 2024/25 financial year, and estimates of the value of visitor expenditure in 2024 – an export of services.
The detailed data tables used to prepare this release can be downloaded here.
Total value of goods imported
The total value of goods imported to St Helena during the 2024/25 financial year is estimated to be £30.7 million, an increase of £5.9 million compared to the previous year, or 23.8%.
Note that the value of goods is ‘free on board’, which means that it excludes freight and insurance charges. Value-added taxes, sales taxes and other fees paid by importers are also excluded, since these statistics are compiled from declarations made by importers to the St Helena Customs authorities, which do not require these additional fees to be included. It is also not adjusted for inflation; a common term for this is that the valuation is in ‘current prices’.
Type of goods imported
Goods imported to St Helena predominantly fall into one of four major groups: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods and articles, food, and mineral fuel and lubricants. Diesel fuel, which is used in St Helena’s electricity power station, is typically among the largest single items each year, arriving by fuel tanker in regular consignments. In 2024/25 there was a large increase in the value of machinery and transport equipment, resulting from investments in transport and communications infrastructure.
Country of purchase of imported goods
Most goods imported to St Helena are purchased in the United Kingdom or South Africa, reflecting the close ties between St Helena and the UK, and the historical cargo shipping routes between Cape Town in South Africa and Jamestown in St Helena. Historically, St Helenians tend to spend roughly the same in the UK and South Africa on imported goods, although slightly more has been spent in South Africa in recent years than in the UK; this may reflect the relative weakness of the Rand compared to the Pound and the lower cost of freight, making South African goods cheaper to purchase. Imports from other countries were mostly mineral fuel (diesel and petrol), and specialised equipment and transport machinery.
Exports of services (visitor expenditure)
Exports of St Helena have historically been thought of in terms of goods, such as fish, coffee, and stamps. However spending by visitors to the island is also an export: exports are purchases by non-residents of St Helena of both goods and services. Visitor expenditure far exceeds the value of goods exports, but estimates are not precise and so are given as a range to indicate the level of uncertainty. In 2024, visitors to St Helena are estimated to have spent between £4.9 and £6.7 million (note that the values in the chart and given in current prices, i.e. not adjusted for inflation).
Range estimates of visitor expenditure, 2024
For more information
For methodology, please click here.