Botswana Cane Sugar Import Market -- HS Code 1701 Trade Data & Price Trend (Oct 2025)

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Cane Sugar imports in October 2025 were dominated by bulk, commodity-grade sucrose (HS Code 1701), with South Africa supplying over 40% of the value, highlighting geographic dependency. The market saw a decline in import value to $4.46 million, continuing a volatile trend after August’s peak. Supplier concentration is extreme, with two producers handling nearly 99% of import value, creating supply chain risks. This analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, confirms a market driven by cost efficiency with limited pricing power.

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) Background

What is HS Code 1701?

HS Code 1701 refers to cane or beet sugar, a globally traded commodity essential for food processing, beverage production, and household consumption. Its demand remains stable due to its role as a staple sweetener across industries, with global trade driven by regional production imbalances and dietary preferences. Botswana's reliance on imports under this code reflects its limited domestic sugar production capacity.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Recent U.S. tariff adjustments under Executive Order 14257 (April 2025) aim to address trade imbalances, potentially influencing global sugar trade dynamics [The White House]. For Botswana, cane sugar imports under HS Code 1701 are critical to meeting domestic demand, with top importers like Tongaat Hulet accounting for over 60% of volume [Tendata]. Monitoring Botswana's cane sugar import trends is vital, as shifts in global tariffs or supply chains could impact pricing and availability. The HS Code 1701 trade data reveals Botswana's dependency on external markets, underscoring the need for strategic sourcing and policy alignment.

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's cane sugar imports in October 2025 totaled $4.46 million at a unit price of $0.77 per kilogram, reflecting a notable decline from the elevated levels seen in August and September. This performance contributes to the overall hs code 1701 value trend for the year, which has shown significant monthly fluctuations.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Cane Sugar Import trend exhibited volatility through 2025, with a sharp increase in August to $6.30 million followed by a gradual decline into October. This pattern suggests adjustments in procurement cycles, possibly influenced by seasonal inventory management or shifts in global sugar availability. The market's concentration, with a single importer dominating over 60% of volumes as noted in import data [Tendata], may amplify such swings. Additionally, U.S. tariff modifications in July (The White House) could have indirectly affected global trade flows and pricing stability for commodities like sugar. The sequential drop from September to October aligns with typical post-peak demand softening, though underlying policy changes likely contributed to the heightened uncertainty observed in import values.

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In October 2025, Botswana's import of HS Code 1701 is heavily concentrated in chemically pure sucrose, which accounts for over a third of the total weight and value. According to yTrade data, the dominant product is sugars; sucrose, chemically pure, not flavored or colored, with a unit price of 0.80 USD per kilogram. A small volume of flavored or colored sucrose is present but isolated from the main analysis due to its extreme price of 52.40 USD per kilogram.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports fall into three clear categories based on grade and source: refined sucrose, raw cane sugar in two specifications, and raw beet sugar. This breakdown shows a market trading primarily in bulk commodities, with unit prices ranging from 0.68 to 0.95 USD per kilogram, indicating slight differentiation by purity and origin rather than high value-added processing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers, the commodity-driven structure limits pricing power, emphasizing cost efficiency in sourcing. Strategic focus should be on optimizing supply chains for raw sugars while exploring opportunities in higher-value segments like refined products, as seen in the isolated high-price item. Analysis of HS Code 1701 trade data suggests that bulk imports dominate Botswana's market.

Table: Botswana HS Code 1701) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 1701 Breakdown

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa is the dominant source for Botswana's Cane Sugar imports in October 2025, accounting for 41.17% of the value and 33.55% of the weight. The value share is higher than the weight share, suggesting imports of higher-grade or more processed sugar from South Africa. The frequency share is 55.69%, which is much higher than both value and weight, indicating frequent, small-scale shipments that could be due to the perishable nature of sugar requiring regular supply chains.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import partners can be grouped into two main clusters based on share profiles. First, a high-yield cluster includes South Africa and Eswatini, where value shares exceed weight shares, pointing to demand for refined or premium sugar variants. Second, a volume cluster features Zimbabwe, with a weight share of 19.28% higher than its value share, indicating bulk imports of raw or lower-end cane sugar. Other countries like Mozambique and India show moderate shares but very low quantity ratios, which might reflect specialized or high-value per unit shipments, though their weight contributions are still significant for bulk trade.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on South Africa for Cane Sugar imports highlights a supply chain vulnerability, where disruptions could affect availability. Diversifying sources to include volume partners like Zimbabwe or exploring options from India could reduce dependency. According to a Tendata report on HS Code 1701, Tongaat Hulett is a major importer in Botswana, which aligns with the South African dominance observed [Tendata]. This supports the need for strategic sourcing adjustments to ensure stable sugar supplies.

Table: Botswana Cane Sugar (HS 1701) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Cane Sugar (HS 1701) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In October 2025, the Botswana Cane Sugar import market showed high supplier concentration. According to yTrade data, a small group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers dominated, handling 98.79% of the import value and 75.29% of shipment frequency. This means the typical trade for Botswana Cane Sugar import suppliers involves large, regular shipments from a few key players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The only other active supplier group is low-value, high-frequency, which adds little to value but has more frequent, smaller shipments. The dominant suppliers, like SUPA GINJA PTY LTD and TONGAAT HULETT SUGAR PTY LTD, are direct producers, pointing to a direct-to-factory supply model for HS code 1701. The low-value cluster includes companies such as VECTOR LOGISTICS PTY LTD, suggesting some logistics-driven or intermediated trade.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Importers in Botswana should focus on securing relationships with the dominant suppliers to ensure stable supply, but face high risk from dependency on few sources. News from Tendata confirms TONGAAT HULETT as a top importer [Tendata], supporting this concentration. Customs procedures, as noted in the FIDI guide (FIDI), may add complexity, requiring attention to compliance for smooth operations.

Table: Botswana Cane Sugar (HS 1701) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Cane Sugar Supplier lists

Action Plan for Cane Sugar Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your Botswana Cane Sugar Import sources beyond South Africa by building relationships with volume-focused suppliers in Zimbabwe, as the hs code 1701 trade data reveals a critical dependency that creates significant supply chain vulnerability.
• Optimize your Cane Sugar supply chain logistics by aligning shipment frequency with the high-volume, low-frequency pattern of dominant suppliers to reduce per-unit costs and improve inventory management for bulk commodity imports.
• Analyze hs code 1701 trade data to identify and target niche opportunities in high-value, chemically pure sucrose to capture higher margins and reduce reliance on the low-margin bulk commodities that dominate the Botswana Cane Sugar Import market.
• Continuously monitor supplier performance and geopolitical risks in primary source countries using real-time trade data to proactively manage disruptions and secure the long-term stability of your Cane Sugar supply chain.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Cane Sugar Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Cane Sugar Import 2025 October?

Botswana's cane sugar imports declined to $4.46 million in October 2025 after a peak in August, reflecting volatile procurement cycles and potential global supply adjustments. The market's heavy reliance on a few dominant suppliers amplifies these fluctuations.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Cane Sugar (HS Code 1701) 2025 October?

South Africa dominates with 41.17% of import value, followed by Eswatini and Zimbabwe. South Africa supplies higher-grade sugar, while Zimbabwe focuses on bulk raw sugar.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Cane Sugar Import?

Price differences stem from product grades: South Africa and Eswatini supply refined sucrose (up to $0.95/kg), while Zimbabwe provides raw cane sugar ($0.68/kg). A rare flavored variant spikes to $52.40/kg.

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Cane Sugar?

Importers must secure relationships with key suppliers like SUPA GINJA PTY LTD and TONGAAT HULETT SUGAR PTY LTD while diversifying sources to mitigate reliance on South Africa.

Q5. What does this Botswana Cane Sugar import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers from South Africa and Eswatini benefit from stable demand for premium sugar, while Zimbabwean bulk exporters face competition. Logistics-driven traders play a minor role.

Q6. How is Cane Sugar typically used in this trade flow?

Botswana primarily imports bulk raw and refined sucrose for industrial or consumer use, with minimal high-value processed variants. The trade is commodity-driven, emphasizing cost efficiency.