Botswana Cane Sugar Import Market -- HS Code 1701 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q1 2025)

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Cane Sugar imports in Q1 2025 are dominated by raw cane sugar, accounting for 60% of volume at a low $0.85/kg, with refined sucrose priced higher at $1.03/kg, signaling a bulk commodity market. The trade is highly concentrated, with 91% of imports controlled by a few key suppliers like QUALITY SUGARS, creating supply chain risks. South Africa supplies 66% of imports, often in frequent, small shipments, while Eswatini and Zimbabwe handle premium-grade bulk orders. March saw a rebound in both volume and value, closing the quarter at $0.95/kg, reflecting steady demand. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for Q1 2025.

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. Botswana's reliance on imports for this product underscores its significance in the domestic market.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Botswana's cane sugar import landscape is shaped by key players like Tongaat Hulett (Botswana), which accounted for 61.66% of HS Code 1701 imports in Q1 2025 [Tendata]. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions in 2025 further influence trade dynamics, highlighting the need for compliance vigilance (Harmonized Tariff Schedule). Botswana's strategic position as a net importer of cane sugar necessitates close monitoring of global price trends and supply chain shifts to ensure market stability. This underscores the importance of analyzing hs code 1701 trade data for informed decision-making.

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's cane sugar imports for Q1 2025 totaled $15.79 million, with a notable rebound in March. The quarter closed with a unit price of $0.95/kg, reflecting a recovery from the softer pricing seen in January and February.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Cane Sugar Import trend showed clear sequential momentum, with both volume and value climbing in March after a dip in February. This uptick likely reflects routine inventory restocking or alignment with regional demand cycles, possibly influenced by currency movements or broader raw sugar market conditions. The overall hs code 1701 value trend for the quarter remained solid, indicating steady end-user demand despite monthly fluctuations.

Botswana Cane Sugar Import (HS 1701) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's HS Code 1701 import in Q1 2025 is overwhelmingly dominated by raw cane sugar, which accounts for nearly 60% of the total import value. The product 'Sugars; cane sugar, raw, in solid form' (HS 17011300) is the clear market leader, with a significantly lower unit price of $0.85 USD per kilogram compared to more refined types. This high volume, low-price profile confirms its role as a bulk commodity import.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The import structure for HS Code 1701 reveals two clear product tiers. The first is raw sugar from both cane and beet sources, all priced below $0.90 USD/kg. The second tier consists of chemically pure sucrose, which commands a higher price of $1.03 USD/kg, indicating a more refined, higher-grade product. This split shows Botswana's sugar imports are primarily basic, fungible commodities, with a smaller segment of purer, value-added material.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This HS Code 1701 trade data points to a market with strong buyer power for bulk raw sugar, where price is the key factor. Importers should focus on securing cost-effective long-term contracts for raw cane sugar, which drives most of the volume. For higher-grade sucrose, there is less volume leverage, so quality and supplier reliability become more important than price negotiation.

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

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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 Q1 2025, holding a 66.04% value share. Its value share exceeds its weight share of 59.30%, indicating demand for higher-grade or refined Cane Sugar products. The frequency share is disproportionately high at 83.13%, suggesting frequent, small-scale shipments typical for retail or daily consumption needs in Botswana's market for HS Code 1701.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import origins form two clusters based on trade profiles. SOUTH AFRICA alone represents a high-frequency cluster, with regular shipments supporting just-in-time supply chains for fresh food logistics. ESWATINI and ZIMBABWE comprise a value-intensive cluster, with value shares of 18.65% and 15.25% respectively, pointing to shipments of premium or specialty Cane Sugar variants, though ZIMBABWE's low frequency indicates bulk or infrequent high-value consignments, possibly due to regional trade agreements or specific quality demands.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on SOUTH AFRICA for Cane Sugar imports underscores supply chain vulnerability to regional disruptions. Diversifying sources within Southern Africa, such as increasing volumes from ESWATINI, could mitigate risks and stabilize costs. Monitoring trade data for HS Code 1701 will be key to adapting sourcing strategies amid potential logistical or political shifts in the region.

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 Q1 2025, the Botswana Cane Sugar import market is dominated by a small group of suppliers. According to yTrade data, one cluster handles over 91% of the import value and nearly 95% of the quantity through frequent, large shipments. This shows that the typical trade for Botswana's Cane Sugar imports relies heavily on a few key players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The main suppliers, like QUALITY SUGARS and ILLOVO SUGAR PTY LTD, are direct producers, indicating a direct-to-factory supply chain for HS code 1701. Other groups include less frequent but high-value shippers, such as TONGAAT HULLETT, which matches reports of their large market share [Tendata]. Low-value clusters have minimal impact, representing smaller or occasional transactions.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in Botswana, this setup requires focusing on strong ties with top suppliers to avoid disruptions. The high reliance on a few sources increases risk, so exploring diversification from other clusters could help. The news from Tendata supports this dominance, highlighting the need for robust supply chain planning.

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

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Action Plan for Cane Sugar Market Operation and Expansion

• Secure long-term contracts with top-tier suppliers like Illovo to lock in bulk pricing for raw cane sugar, as this ensures cost stability for Botswana's Cane Sugar Import market.
• Diversify sourcing beyond South Africa by increasing volumes from Eswatini, reducing supply chain vulnerability to regional disruptions in the Cane Sugar supply chain.
• Monitor hs code 1701 trade data weekly to track price shifts and shipment frequencies, enabling agile purchasing decisions during market volatility.
• Build direct relationships with raw sugar producers rather than traders, cutting intermediary costs and securing priority access to high-volume shipments.
• Develop a contingency plan using hs code 1701 trade data to quickly pivot to alternative suppliers like Zimbabwe if geopolitical issues affect primary routes.

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 Q1?

Botswana's cane sugar imports rebounded in March 2025 after a dip in February, closing Q1 at $0.95/kg. This reflects steady demand and possible restocking cycles, with raw cane sugar dominating 60% of imports due to its low bulk price.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Cane Sugar (HS Code 1701) 2025 Q1?

South Africa supplies 66% of Botswana’s cane sugar imports by value, followed by Eswatini (18.65%) and Zimbabwe (15.25%). South Africa’s high shipment frequency suggests it meets daily retail demand.

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

Price differences stem from product tiers: raw cane/beet sugar costs under $0.90/kg, while refined sucrose (e.g., from Eswatini/Zimbabwe) commands $1.03/kg due to higher purity.

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

Importers should prioritize long-term contracts with dominant suppliers like Illovo Sugar for bulk raw sugar, while diversifying sources to mitigate reliance on South Africa’s high-frequency shipments.

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

Suppliers like South Africa benefit from consistent demand, but niche players (e.g., Eswatini) can leverage premium-grade opportunities. Bulk raw sugar exporters must compete on price.

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

Botswana primarily imports raw cane sugar as a bulk commodity for mass consumption, with a smaller share of refined sucrose likely for food processing or specialty uses.

Detailed Monthly Report

Botswana HS1701 Import Snapshot 2025 JAN

Botswana HS1701 Import Snapshot 2025 FEB

Botswana HS1701 Import Snapshot 2025 MAR