Botswana Food Preparations Import Market -- HS Code 2106 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Food Preparations imports under HS Code 2106 in April 2025 reveal a market dominated by bulk, low-value items like general food preparations, with a sharp 45% unit price spike to $2.47/kg amid declining volumes. Supplier concentration is high, with top players controlling 84% of import value, while South Africa accounts for 86% of shipments, exposing supply chain risks. This analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, highlights Botswana’s reliance on cost-sensitive bulk imports vulnerable to regional disruptions and price volatility.

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Background

What is HS Code 2106?

HS Code 2106 covers "Food preparations not elsewhere specified," a broad category encompassing processed food products that don't fit into more specific classifications. These preparations are essential for industries like retail, hospitality, and food manufacturing, driving consistent global demand due to their versatility and convenience. Botswana's imports under this code reflect its reliance on diversified food products to meet domestic consumption needs.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In April 2025, the U.S. Administration increased additional duties on imports from Botswana to 37%, effective 9 April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift underscores the need for vigilance in Botswana's food preparations import market, particularly under HS Code 2106. As a landlocked country with limited domestic production capacity, Botswana relies heavily on imports to stabilize its food supply chain. Monitoring hs code 2106 trade data is critical to assess the impact of tariff changes and ensure market stability. The strategic significance of Botswana's food preparations import flow lies in its role as a key indicator of broader trade dynamics and food security in the region.

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Price Trend

Key Observations

In April 2025, the Botswana Food Preparations Import trend reached 2.40 million USD, with a unit price of $2.47 per kg for HS code 2106, indicating a period of elevated costs amid fluctuating trade volumes.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 2106 value trend declined slightly from March's 2.51 million USD, despite a sharp rise in unit price from $1.70 to $2.47 per kg, as import weight dropped to 969.81 thousand kg. This volatility coincides with the U.S. Administration's increase in additional duties on imports from Botswana to 37 percent, effective April 9, 2025, as reported by [Global Trade Alert], which likely contributed to economic uncertainty and supply chain adjustments. Food preparations imports are often price-sensitive, and the sequential changes suggest market responses to external policy shifts, with higher prices potentially reflecting cost pass-through or reduced availability.

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for April 2025, Botswana's import of HS Code 2106 is heavily concentrated in a single product type, with the sub-code 21069090 for general food preparations dominating the market. This code accounts for over half of the import value and weight, with a unit price of 2.41 USD per kilogram, indicating a focus on bulk, lower-value items. An extreme price anomaly is present in sub-code 21061010 for protein concentrates, priced at 23.78 USD per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its low volume and specialized nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports under HS Code 2106 can be grouped into two main categories based on value-add stage. The first group includes bulk food preparations like 21069020 and 21069050, with unit prices around 1.35 to 2.29 USD per kilogram, representing standardized, commodity-like goods. The second group consists of higher-value items such as 21061090 and 21069035, priced between 4.97 and 7.79 USD per kilogram, suggesting more processed or specialized products. This structure shows a mix of fungible bulk imports and differentiated manufactured goods, with no clear dominance of high-end grades.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The market structure for HS Code 2106 imports into Botswana implies limited pricing power for buyers, as bulk commodities dominate and are likely price-sensitive to global indices. Suppliers of specialized products may have some leverage due to higher value, but the overall focus should be on cost efficiency and sourcing reliability for bulk items. Analyzing HS Code 2106 trade data suggests that strategic efforts should prioritize securing stable supply chains for high-volume, low-margin goods while exploring niches in value-added preparations.

Table: Botswana HS Code 2106) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

SOUTH AFRICA dominates Botswana's Food Preparations imports in April 2025, holding 85.51% of the value share and 92.25% of the weight share. The weight share exceeds the value share, indicating a focus on bulk or lower-end variants, such as raw ingredients or less processed foods, rather than premium finished products. With a high frequency share of 95.11%, shipments from South Africa are frequent, likely supporting retail or perishable supply chains with regular deliveries.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The remaining origins cluster into two groups based on trade profiles. High-yield suppliers like FRANCE, ITALY, CANADA, DENMARK, and GEORGIA have value shares outweighing weight shares, suggesting imports of premium or specialty food items, such as branded or high-value preparations. Volume-oriented suppliers, notably ESWATINI with a weight share of 3.22% exceeding its value share, point to bulk shipments, possibly due to regional proximity facilitating cost-effective transport of raw materials or basic food components.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on South Africa for Food Preparations imports creates supply chain vulnerability to regional disruptions. Diversifying sourcing to include more high-yield and volume clusters could mitigate risks and stabilize supply. Analyzing HS Code 2106 trade data shows opportunities to tap into varied supplier networks for better resilience in Botswana's food import strategy.

Table: Botswana Food Preparations (HS 2106) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Food Preparations (HS 2106) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana Food Preparations import suppliers market in April 2025 is highly concentrated. Suppliers with high value and high frequency shipments dominate, holding 83.55% of the total import value. This group also accounts for 75.88% of shipment frequency, indicating a reliable and volume-driven trade flow for typical imports.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining clusters include suppliers with high value but low frequency, low value with high frequency, and low value with low frequency, contributing smaller shares. The profile of hs code 2106 suppliers in the dominant group, featuring companies like CIPLA, suggests a direct supply chain model where manufacturers play a key role. This points to an efficient, manufacturer-driven market for Food Preparations imports into Botswana.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in Botswana, the heavy reliance on a few high-value, high-frequency suppliers offers cost efficiency but poses risks from supply disruptions. Diversifying sources could mitigate vulnerability. Broader trade changes, such as the U.S. duty increase on Botswana exports effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert], may indirectly pressure import strategies by affecting economic conditions.

Table: Botswana Food Preparations (HS 2106) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Food Preparations Supplier lists

Action Plan for Food Preparations Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 2106 trade data to diversify sourcing beyond South Africa, targeting high-yield suppliers in Europe and volume clusters like Eswatini, to reduce supply chain vulnerability and secure premium or bulk options for Botswana's Food Preparations Import.
• Analyze shipment frequency from dominant high-value suppliers to optimize inventory levels, preventing overstock and ensuring consistent supply for the Food Preparations supply chain in Botswana.
• Negotiate directly with manufacturers like CIPLA using detailed import data to lock in competitive pricing for bulk items, leveraging Botswana's high-volume demand to counter limited buyer pricing power.
• Explore niche opportunities in higher-value sub-codes (e.g., 21061090) by targeting specialized suppliers, adding premium products to Botswana's Food Preparations Import portfolio and increasing profit margins.
• Develop a contingency plan using real-time trade alerts to quickly adapt to external shocks, such as U.S. duty changes, protecting the stability of Botswana's Food Preparations supply chain.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Food Preparations Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The slight decline in import value to 2.40 million USD, despite a sharp unit price rise to $2.47/kg, reflects market volatility linked to U.S. tariff hikes on Botswana exports, which disrupted supply chains and likely triggered cost pass-throughs.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Food Preparations (HS Code 2106) 2025 April?

South Africa dominates with 85.51% of import value, followed by niche suppliers like France and Italy, which focus on premium products with higher value-to-weight ratios.

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

Price gaps stem from product specialization: bulk items (e.g., sub-code 21069090 at $2.41/kg) dominate South African shipments, while European suppliers provide pricier processed goods (e.g., sub-code 21069035 at $7.79/kg).

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

Prioritize securing stable bulk supply from high-frequency South African suppliers while diversifying into specialty European products to mitigate over-reliance on a single origin.

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

South African bulk suppliers benefit from consistent demand, while European exporters have opportunities to expand niche high-value shipments given Botswana’s underexplored premium segment.

Q6. How is Food Preparations typically used in this trade flow?

Imports are split between bulk, low-margin ingredients (e.g., raw food preparations) and higher-value processed items, catering to both mass-market and specialized consumer needs.