Botswana Cigarettes Import Market -- HS Code 2402 Trade Data & Price Trend (Feb 2025)

Botswana Cigarettes Import (HS 2402) Key Takeaways

Botswana's cigarette imports under HS code 2402 surged 68% in February 2025 to $1.04 million, driven by premium cigarettes (98% of value) at $57.66 per unit, signaling strong demand for high-grade products. The market is dangerously concentrated, with 99.47% of imports controlled by a single supplier cluster and 99.09% sourced from South Africa, exposing critical supply chain vulnerabilities. This analysis, covering February 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Botswana Cigarettes Import (HS 2402) Background

What is HS Code 2402?

HS Code 2402 covers cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco substitutes, primarily used for personal consumption or retail distribution. Global demand remains stable due to entrenched consumption patterns, despite increasing health regulations. The product is a significant revenue generator for both producers and governments through excise taxes.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Botswana's cigarettes import market is influenced by regional demand and regulatory frameworks, though no recent trade policy changes have been announced. As a landlocked country, Botswana relies on imports to meet domestic consumption, making trade data for HS Code 2402 critical for supply chain planning. Monitoring Botswana's cigarettes import trends is essential for stakeholders navigating tax policies and shifting consumer preferences. Strategic vigilance is required to adapt to potential regulatory shifts or macroeconomic pressures affecting tobacco trade.

Botswana Cigarettes Import (HS 2402) Price Trend

Key Observations

In February 2025, Botswana's cigarette imports under HS code 2402 surged to $1.04 million USD, a significant increase from January's $636,000 USD, while the average unit price edged down to $51.49 per kg from $52.85 per kg. This performance highlights a robust expansion in import activity for the month.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Cigarettes Import trend shows a clear momentum shift from January to February, with import volume jumping 68% to 20.26 thousand kg and value rising sharply, indicating heightened demand or strategic stockpiling. The slight decline in unit price suggests possible bulk purchasing efficiencies or competitive market pressures, rather than any reported policy changes. This activity aligns with typical inventory cycles in tobacco imports, where early-year builds often support steady distribution channels, potentially influenced by regional economic factors or currency stability. The hs code 2402 value trend reflects this adaptive market behavior, focusing on volume growth to meet consumer needs.

Botswana Cigarettes Import (HS 2402) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import of HS Code 2402 in February 2025 is heavily concentrated in cigarettes containing tobacco, specifically under sub-code 24022090, which accounts for over 98% of the total value. This product dominates with a unit price of approximately $57.66 per unit, significantly higher than other variants, indicating a specialized market focus on premium or standard cigarette imports.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports are split into two main categories: cigars and similar products with tobacco substitutes, and a smaller segment of cigars with tobacco. These groups show lower unit prices, ranging from $15.95 to $31.68 per unit, suggesting a trade in differentiated manufactured goods rather than bulk commodities, with variations likely based on brand or quality grades.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This market structure implies strong pricing power for dominant cigarette imports, guiding importers to focus on securing reliable suppliers for high-value products. Analyzing HS Code 2402 trade data for Botswana highlights opportunities in niche segments like cigars, but the strategic emphasis should remain on the core cigarette category to maximize returns.

Table: Botswana HS Code 2402) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 2402 Breakdown

Botswana Cigarettes Import (HS 2402) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa is the dominant source for Botswana's cigarette imports in February 2025, supplying 99.09% of the total value. This near-total reliance is confirmed by its 97.84% share of the quantity and 98.44% of all import shipments. The higher value share compared to the quantity share points to Botswana's demand for higher-grade or more finished cigarette products from this partner.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The trade profile shows two distinct clusters. South Africa forms a "Volume/Hub Cluster," acting as the primary bulk supplier and logistics conduit for this manufactured good. Eswatini represents a "Transactional Cluster," with its shipment frequency share (1.56%) being significantly higher than its minimal value share (0.91%). This suggests small, likely regular, cross-border shipments that supplement the main supply chain but do not challenge its volume dominance.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's cigarette supply chain is overwhelmingly dependent on a single origin, creating a critical vulnerability to any disruption in South Africa. The strategic implication is a pressing need to diversify sourcing to mitigate this risk. The data for HS Code 2402 shows no current effort to build alternative supply routes, making the entire import flow susceptible to logistical, economic, or political shifts in its dominant partner country.

Table: Botswana Cigarettes (HS 2402) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Cigarettes (HS 2402) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana Cigarettes Import supplier market in February 2025 is extremely concentrated. One group of suppliers dominates, handling 99.47% of the total import value. This group also accounts for 93.75% of all shipments. The typical trade involves large, frequent deliveries from a very small number of key players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The dominant cluster consists of major manufacturers like British American Tobacco. The profile of HS code 2402 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory sourcing model. A smaller cluster handles minor volumes through more frequent but low-value shipments, likely serving niche or local distribution channels. These smaller suppliers account for just 0.53% of import value.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's cigarette imports rely heavily on a single supplier cluster. This creates high supply chain risk if disruptions affect these key manufacturers. Importers should consider developing backup suppliers to reduce vulnerability. The market structure shows no significant diversification opportunities within the current supplier base.

Table: Botswana Cigarettes (HS 2402) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Cigarettes Supplier lists

Action Plan for Cigarettes Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your Cigarettes supply chain beyond South Africa. Use hs code 2402 trade data to identify and qualify new potential suppliers in other regions to mitigate the critical risk of a single-source dependency.
• Develop a backup supplier from the existing minor cluster. Negotiate a small-scale contract with a secondary supplier for regular, smaller shipments to ensure continuity if your primary supply from the dominant cluster is disrupted.
• Analyze the niche cigar segment for new opportunities. Use detailed import data to assess the potential profitability of low-volume, higher-margin products to diversify your Botswana Cigarettes Import portfolio beyond standard cigarettes.
• Leverage your volume for better contract terms with key manufacturers. Use shipment frequency and value data from your hs code 2402 trade data analysis to negotiate more favorable pricing and delivery schedules, securing your position as a priority partner.
• Create a contingency plan for supply chain disruptions. Map all logistics and customs processes for your Cigarettes supply chain to enable a rapid pivot to an alternative route or supplier, minimizing potential downtime.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Cigarettes Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Cigarettes Import 2025 February?

Botswana's cigarette imports surged 68% in volume and 63% in value from January to February 2025, reaching $1.04 million, likely due to heightened demand or strategic stockpiling. The slight drop in unit price ($51.49/kg) suggests bulk purchasing efficiencies or competitive pressures.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Cigarettes (HS Code 2402) 2025 February?

South Africa dominates, supplying 99.09% of the import value, while Eswatini accounts for just 0.91% through smaller, more frequent shipments.

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

The price gap stems from product specialization: premium cigarettes (sub-code 24022090) average $57.66/unit, while cigars and tobacco substitutes range from $15.95 to $31.68.

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

Importers must prioritize securing reliable suppliers for high-value cigarettes (99.47% of trade) while developing backup options to mitigate risks from extreme supplier concentration (1 cluster handles 93.75% of shipments).

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

South African suppliers hold near-monopoly power (99% market share), but niche opportunities exist for smaller players in cigar segments (0.53% value share) through frequent, low-volume shipments.

Q6. How is Cigarettes typically used in this trade flow?

Botswana primarily imports finished premium cigarettes (98% of value) for direct consumer use, with minimal trade in cigars or tobacco substitutes likely serving niche markets.