Botswana Computers Import Market -- HS Code 8471 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Botswana Computers Import (HS 8471) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s computers import under HS Code 8471 surged to $4.72 million in April 2025, rebounding from March as buyers rushed to stockpile ahead of new U.S. tariffs. The market is dominated by portable laptops (35% share) and high-end specialized equipment, with heavy reliance on China and South Africa for 95% of volume—creating supply chain risks. Supplier concentration exacerbates vulnerability, with just two firms handling over 78% of import value. This analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, covers April 2025 and highlights urgent diversification needs for Botswana’s tech ecosystem.

Botswana Computers Import (HS 8471) Background

What is HS Code 8471?

HS Code 8471 covers automatic data processing machines, including computers and laptops. These products are critical for industries ranging from education and healthcare to finance and manufacturing, driving consistent global demand. Their ubiquity in modern workflows ensures steady trade activity under this classification.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States increased additional duties on all imports from Botswana to 37% effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift directly impacts Botswana's computers import under HS Code 8471, potentially altering trade dynamics. Botswana's role as a supplier of these goods, though niche, underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring hs code 8471 trade data amid evolving tariffs. Stakeholders must assess how these changes affect supply chains and pricing competitiveness.

Botswana Computers Import (HS 8471) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's computer imports (HS Code 8471) in April 2025 totaled $4.72 million, a notable recovery from March's $3.55 million. The average unit price for the month was $137.98 per kilogram, down from $140.55 in March, reflecting a shift in product mix or sourcing strategy amid changing trade conditions.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Computers Import trend showed significant volatility in early 2025. After a sharp decline in both value and volume from January to March, April's rebound suggests importers accelerated shipments ahead of anticipated trade barriers. This activity aligns directly with the U.S. administration's April 9th announcement [Global Trade Alert] imposing a 37% additional duty on all imports from Botswana, likely prompting stockpiling of high-value electronics components. The hs code 8471 value trend indicates that while unit prices softened slightly, the primary market driver was securing inventory before the tariff's implementation, reflecting typical industry behavior ahead of cost-inflating policy changes.

Botswana Computers Import (HS 8471) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In April 2025, Botswana's import market for computers under HS Code 8471 is dominated by portable laptops, specifically the sub-code for automatic data processing machines that are portable and weigh under 10kg. According to yTrade data, this category holds a value share of nearly 35%, with a unit price of around 512 USD per unit, indicating a focus on finished, consumer-ready devices. A notable anomaly is the sub-code for other units of automatic data processing machines, which has an isolated high unit price of over 3,000 USD per unit, suggesting specialized or high-end equipment that is distinct from the main import flow.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports can be grouped into two main categories: processing units and system components with mid-range prices, and peripheral units like input/output and storage devices with lower unit prices under 100 USD. This structure shows that Botswana's HS Code 8471 import activities involve differentiated manufactured goods, not bulk commodities, with a mix of core computing parts and accessories that support a broader technology ecosystem.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This import pattern implies limited pricing power for Botswana buyers, as they rely heavily on finished portable computers from international suppliers. Strategic focus should be on diversifying sources for key components to reduce dependency and negotiate better terms, while leveraging HS Code 8471 trade data to identify cost-effective opportunities in peripheral devices.

Table: Botswana HS Code 8471) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Computers Import (HS 8471) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In April 2025, Botswana's import of computers is heavily concentrated in two main origins: China Mainland and South Africa. China leads with a 51.34% share of the quantity imported, while South Africa follows with 43.57%. However, South Africa accounts for over half of the shipment frequency at 51.25%, indicating very frequent deliveries. The value share for China is 41.56%, which is lower than its quantity share, suggesting that Botswana imports lower-cost or bulk computers from there. South Africa's high frequency points to regular, smaller shipments, likely due to its geographic proximity facilitating just-in-time supply chains for computers.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top origins for Botswana's computers import can be grouped into two clusters. First, the volume cluster includes China and South Africa, which together dominate the quantity and value shares, supplying the majority of computers, possibly as mass-produced or standard models. Second, the high-yield cluster consists of the United States and Poland, where value shares (8.84% and 2.96% respectively) are significantly higher than their quantity shares (0.96% and 0.13%), indicating imports of higher-value or premium computers from these countries. This split reflects Botswana's sourcing strategy: relying on China and South Africa for cost-effective volume, while turning to the US and Poland for specialized or high-end computer equipment.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on China and South Africa for computers imports creates a supply chain risk due to concentration; any disruptions there could affect availability. Diversifying sources, such as increasing imports from the high-yield cluster countries, could mitigate this risk and provide access to better technology. For HS Code 8471 trade, maintaining strong logistics with South Africa for frequent shipments is key, while exploring options with other partners could enhance resilience without immediate policy changes from the news context.

Table: Botswana Computers (HS 8471) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Computers (HS 8471) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana computers import supplier market in April 2025 is highly concentrated. One group of suppliers dominates, handling 78.13% of the total import value and 80.76% of all shipments. This group represents the typical trade, with large, regular deliveries.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 8471 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory model, with companies like COREX PTY LTD and MASSTORES PTY LTD likely shipping finished goods. Other suppliers play smaller roles. A few companies handle very high-value but infrequent shipments, like DE BEERS GROUP SERVICES PTY LTD. Many others make small, frequent deliveries with low total value. A final set of suppliers makes rare, low-value shipments.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's heavy reliance on a small group of key computer suppliers creates risk. The high concentration means any disruption with these partners could hurt supply. The recent U.S. tariff increase to 37% on all imports from Botswana, effective 9 April 2025 [GlobalTradeAlert], adds cost pressure and supply chain risk. Importers should diversify sources to reduce this vulnerability.

Table: Botswana Computers (HS 8471) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Computers Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 8471 trade data to identify and qualify new suppliers outside of China and South Africa to diversify the Botswana Computers Import sourcing base and reduce vulnerability to supply chain disruptions from a few key partners.
• Analyze the hs code 8471 trade data to shift more volume to high-yield origin countries like the United States and Poland for specialized, high-value computer equipment, improving the overall technology level of imports and mitigating reliance on bulk, low-cost models.
• Negotiate directly with the dominant supplier group using shipment frequency data to secure volume-based discounts on portable laptops, leveraging their high shipment volume to lower the average unit cost for the Botswana Computers Import market.
• Develop a dual-sourcing strategy for the Computers supply chain, maintaining frequent, smaller shipments from South Africa for operational needs while building relationships with alternative suppliers for core components to ensure continuity and better pricing power.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Computers Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Computers Import 2025 April?

The rebound in April 2025 to $4.72 million reflects accelerated imports ahead of the U.S. 37% tariff hike, with buyers prioritizing inventory buildup of high-value electronics like portable laptops (35% share) and specialized equipment.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Computers (HS Code 8471) 2025 April?

China (51.34% quantity share) and South Africa (43.57%) dominate, while the U.S. and Poland supply higher-value units, contributing 8.84% and 2.96% of import value respectively.

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

Price gaps stem from product mix: China and South Africa provide cost-effective bulk devices (e.g., $512 portable laptops), while the U.S. and Poland ship premium equipment like $3,000+ specialized processing units.

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

Diversify suppliers beyond the dominant group handling 78% of imports, and leverage South Africa’s frequent shipments for stability while exploring high-yield options like U.S./Polish specialized equipment.

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

Suppliers from China/South Africa benefit from volume reliance, but U.S. and Polish exporters have niche opportunities for high-margin equipment, given Botswana’s demand for diversified, high-grade technology.

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

Imports under HS Code 8471 support Botswana’s technology ecosystem, with portable laptops (consumer use) and peripherals dominating, alongside specialized high-end units for industrial or commercial applications.