Practical references for pipe export buyers.
Checklists, a plain-language glossary, delivery terms and answers to the questions we hear most, so your enquiry is complete the first time.
What a complete enquiry looks like.
The faster we can price, the sooner you can plan. These are the details that let us confirm availability, freight and a delivery date in one pass.
- Pipe type: HDPE PE100, spiral, steel or PVC
- Diameter (OD or DN) and wall thickness, SDR or schedule
- Pressure class: PN, class or rating
- Length per pipe and total quantity, in metres or pieces
- Fittings, flanges, valves, coatings or linings
- Applicable standard or specification, if the project prescribes one
- Destination country and the delivery city or site
- Preferred delivery terms: to site, to border, or ex works
- Required on-site date and whether deliveries can be phased
- Documents you can share: BOQ, drawings, tender specification
Pipe terms, in plain language.
Type to filter the list.
- PE100
- The high-density polyethylene grade used for modern pressure pipe. Stronger than older PE80, allowing thinner walls for the same pressure.
- PN
- Nominal pressure in bar. PN10 pipe is rated for 10 bar working pressure at 20 °C.
- SDR
- Standard dimension ratio: outside diameter divided by wall thickness. A lower SDR means a thicker wall and higher pressure rating.
- DN / OD
- DN is the nominal size; OD is the actual outside diameter. HDPE and PVC are specified by OD, steel usually by DN.
- Class
- PVC pressure rating, for example class 9 or class 12, corresponding to the working pressure in bar.
- ERW
- Electric resistance welded steel pipe, made from strip with a longitudinal weld. Common up to medium diameters.
- Spiral / SAW
- Spiral submerged-arc welded pipe, formed from coil into a helix. Used for large diameters.
- Schedule
- A steel pipe wall-thickness series, for example Sch 40, used with American standards.
- Butt-fusion
- Joining HDPE by heating and pressing pipe ends together, giving a joint as strong as the pipe.
- Electrofusion
- Joining HDPE with couplers that contain a heating element, used for repairs and tight spaces.
- BOQ
- Bill of quantities: the itemised list of materials a project needs, used for tender pricing.
- Abnormal load
- Cargo exceeding standard length, width or mass limits, needing permits and sometimes escorts.
- Clearing agent
- A licensed customs broker who lodges declarations and clears cargo at the border or port.
- Transit bond
- A customs guarantee that cargo passing through a country will exit it without duty becoming payable.
No terms match. Try a shorter word.
Which Incoterms we quote.
Delivery terms define who arranges and pays for each leg, and where risk passes. We quote on the terms that suit the route and your team.
| Term | Name | What it means for a pipe order |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Ex Works | Buyer collects at the South African factory or yard and handles all transport and export formalities. |
| FCA | Free Carrier | We hand the cargo, export-cleared, to the buyer’s nominated carrier in South Africa. |
| CPT | Carriage Paid To | We arrange and pay transport to the named place, for example the border or port of entry. Risk passes on handover to the carrier. |
| DAP | Delivered at Place | We deliver to the named site or border, ready for unloading. Import duties and clearance are for the buyer. |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid | We deliver to site with import duties and clearance included, where the destination allows it. |
Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce. The summaries above are simplified; the contract wording governs.
Markets and their corridors.
Planning context for each priority market. Use the corridor explorer for ports, border posts and modes.
| Market | Main corridors | Project hubs |
|---|---|---|
| DRC | Durban / North–South Corridor, Dar es Salaam Corridor | Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, Likasi |
| Zambia | Durban / North–South Corridor, Dar es Salaam Corridor | Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe |
| Zimbabwe | Beitbridge / North–South Corridor, Beira Corridor | Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare |
| Mozambique | Maputo Corridor, Beira Corridor | Maputo, Matola, Beira |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam Gateway, Southern African connections | Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mbeya |
Everything buyers ask us.
Still unsure? The export assistant answers instantly, and the sales team follows up on anything specific.
Does Elderberry ZA export pipes from South Africa?
Yes. Elderberry ZA Pipeline Exports sources and supplies pipe products from South Africa into selected African markets, with logistics and cross-border support.
Which countries do you focus on?
Our priority export markets are the DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania. Other destinations can be discussed case by case.
What pipe products can I request?
HDPE PE100, spiral pipe, steel pipe and PVC pipe are our core product categories. Fittings, valves and related components can be priced alongside the pipe.
What information should I provide for a quotation?
Product type, diameter, pressure class or SDR where applicable, quantity, length, fittings, delivery destination and required delivery date are useful starting points. A BOQ or specification speeds up pricing.
Can you deliver to the mine or project site, not just the capital?
Yes. Enquiries can be structured around the actual project or mine site rather than only the nearest major city. Route feasibility and freight pricing are confirmed per shipment.
How do pipeline exports fit into the Elderberry ZA group?
Elderberry ZA is a holding company with focused operating subsidiaries. Industrial procurement, including pipes, valves and pumps, sits within Elderberry Consulting Engineers, alongside Elderberry ZA Mining and Triad Water Solutions.
Do you quote delivered-to-site or ex works prices?
Both. Tell us your preferred delivery terms in the quote builder. We can quote collected ex works in South Africa, delivered to the border or port of entry, or delivered to site, subject to route feasibility.
Can you supply fittings, valves and pumps with the pipe?
Yes. Industrial procurement across the Elderberry ZA group covers pipes, valves, pumps and water-treatment components. List them in your enquiry and they are priced with the pipe.
Which standards do your pipes meet?
South African manufacturers typically produce to SANS and ISO standards, for example SANS ISO 4427 for HDPE and SANS 719 for welded steel. The applicable standard, pressure class and certification are confirmed with the manufacturer at quotation stage.
How are long or oversize pipe loads transported?
Large-diameter or long-length pipe is planned as abnormal or project cargo. Route surveys, load permits and escort requirements are built into the delivery plan before dispatch.
What export documents are involved?
Typically a commercial invoice, packing list, customs export declaration, certificate of origin where applicable and the transport documents for road or sea. Transit and destination requirements are confirmed per shipment.
How long does a quotation take?
Simple enquiries with a clear specification are usually answered within a few working days. Tender-grade pricing with freight to a remote site can take longer because routes and permits are confirmed first.
Can I send a BOQ or drawings?
Yes. Email your BOQ, drawings or tender documents to the sales team with the quote reference. The quote builder also lets you note which documents you will send.
Do you work with EPCM contractors and distributors?
Yes. We supply mining houses, EPCM and construction contractors, water utilities, agricultural projects and regional distributors.
Perspectives from across the group.
Articles on commodity markets, engineering delivery, procurement and water resilience, published by Elderberry ZA.