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

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Food Preparations Import under HS Code 2106 in January 2025 reveals a market split between bulk commodities and high-value niche products, with standard items priced at 2.04 USD/kg dominating volume while specialized goods reach up to 72.67 USD/kg. The market shows stable demand at 2.70 million USD, with potential regulatory impacts from new BURS tariffs. Supplier concentration is extreme, with 89.85% of import value controlled by a few dominant players like DIS-CHEM, creating high dependency risks. Geographically, South Africa supplies 96.24% of imports, highlighting severe regional reliance. This analysis is based on cleanly processed January 2025 Customs data from the yTrade database.

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 like sauces, mixes, and supplements. These items are critical for both consumer retail and industrial food manufacturing, driving consistent global demand due to their versatility and shelf stability. Botswana's imports under this code reflect its reliance on processed foods to supplement domestic production.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Botswana's food and beverage imports reached P1,256.3 million in May 2025, accounting for 15.4% of total imports, with cereals and beverages leading the category [Scribd]. This underscores the country's dependence on foreign food preparations, particularly under HS Code 2106, to meet local consumption needs. Given Botswana's limited agricultural output, hs code 2106 trade data remains a key indicator of food security and import dependency. Monitoring Botswana's food preparations import trends is essential for anticipating supply chain risks and policy adjustments in 2025.

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Price Trend

Key Observations

In January 2025, Botswana's Food Preparations imports under HS Code 2106 reached 2.70 million USD, with a unit price of 1.39 USD per kg. This initial data point for the year sets a baseline for the Botswana Food Preparations Import trend, reflecting steady activity in this category.

Price and Volume Dynamics

With imports weighing 1.94 million kg, the hs code 2106 value trend for January shows no immediate prior data for sequential comparison, but the figures align with typical industry patterns where food preparations maintain consistent demand due to their role in processed food supply chains. As the start of the year, this performance may indicate stable procurement ahead of potential seasonal shifts, such as increased demand later in the year for holiday-related products.

External Context and Outlook

The implementation of new tariff notes by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) effective January 1, 2025, [Botswana Unified Revenue Service] could influence import costs and regulatory compliance, potentially contributing to price stability or minor adjustments in coming months. Monitoring these policy changes will be key to understanding future trends in Botswana's food preparations market.

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In January 2025, Botswana's import of HS Code 2106 is dominated by the sub-code for general food preparations, with a unit price of 2.04 USD per kilogram, indicating a focus on standard, moderately priced products. According to yTrade data, this sub-code accounts for nearly 40% of the import value. An extreme price anomaly exists for a high-end preparation at 218.26 USD per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its minimal volume.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports under HS Code 2106 can be grouped into three categories: bulk, low-value items at 0.80 USD per kilogram making up most of the quantity; standard finished preparations priced between 2.04 and 3.50 USD per kilogram; and high-value, specialized products like protein concentrates reaching up to 72.67 USD per kilogram. This mix of bulk commodities and differentiated goods points to a market with both price-sensitive and quality-driven segments.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Importers handling bulk items have limited pricing power and should focus on cost efficiency, while those in specialized segments can leverage higher margins. Analyzing HS Code 2106 trade data suggests that strategic efforts should target niche, high-value products to enhance profitability in Botswana's import market.

Check Detailed HS Code 2106 Breakdown

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

SOUTH AFRICA is the dominant origin for Botswana's Food Preparations imports in January 2025, with a value share of 96.24%, weight share of 99.33%, and frequency share of 94.66%. The weight share slightly exceeds the value share, indicating that shipments from SOUTH AFRICA are skewed towards bulk or lower-value variants of Food Preparations, such as raw ingredients or mass-produced items. The high frequency suggests regular, possibly daily shipments, which is common for perishable food goods requiring just-in-time supply chains. This concentration highlights SOUTH AFRICA's role as the primary supplier for Botswana's HS Code 2106 trade.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import partners can be grouped into two clusters based on share profiles. The Volume/Hub Cluster includes SOUTH AFRICA and ZAMBIA, where weight shares dominate value shares (ZAMBIA: weight 0.42% vs. value 0.22%), indicating bulk-oriented trade, likely for cost-effective raw materials or basic food components sourced from regional neighbors. The High-Yield Cluster consists of countries like the UNITED STATES, CHINA MAINLAND, and others with value shares exceeding weight shares (e.g., UNITED STATES: value 0.92% vs. weight 0.03%), pointing to niche, premium, or finished Food Preparations imported for variety and higher quality, often from distant markets.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on SOUTH AFRICA for Food Preparations imports creates supply chain vulnerability to disruptions, such as logistical delays or political changes. To mitigate risks, diversifying sourcing towards High-Yield Cluster partners could enhance stability and provide access to a broader range of products. This strategy would support a more resilient import framework for HS Code 2106, reducing dependency on a single origin while meeting diverse consumer demands.

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

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Action Plan for Food Preparations Market Operation and Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Botswana Food Preparations Import market is shaped by three core price drivers. Product specification is primary. The hs code 2106 trade data reveals a clear split between low-cost bulk items and high-value specialized goods. Supplier concentration is the second driver. A handful of high-volume agents control nearly 90% of trade, influencing pricing and availability. Heavy geographic reliance is the third. South Africa's 96% value share creates inherent supply chain vulnerability.

These drivers create significant supply chain implications. The current Food Preparations supply chain is efficient but fragile. It is optimized for cost-effective bulk shipments from a single dominant neighbor. This model offers stability but lacks resilience against disruptions. It also limits access to innovative, high-margin products that come from diversified global sources.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Food Preparations Market Execution and Expansion

• Analyze hs code 2106 trade data to identify specific high-value sub-codes. Target imports with unit prices above $70/kg. WHY IT MATTERS: This shifts focus from low-margin bulk trade to specialized segments where higher profits are possible, directly improving bottom-line performance.
• Use supplier frequency data to build a backup list of high-value, low-frequency partners. Initiate contact with these firms. WHY IT MATTERS: This reduces over-reliance on the dominant supplier group, mitigating risk and creating competitive pressure on pricing for your Botswana Food Preparations Import operations.
• Diversify your sourcing map by targeting origins in the High-Yield Cluster. Prioritize countries like the United States for premium products. WHY IT MATTERS: This builds a more resilient Food Preparations supply chain, insulating your business from logistical or political shocks in South Africa and meeting demand for diverse product grades.
• Segment your inventory strategy based on import price bands. Use bulk items for consistent, high-volume demand and high-value goods for niche markets. WHY IT MATTERS: This optimizes capital allocation and storage costs, ensuring you are not tying up funds in slow-moving, low-margin stock.

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 January?

The import value reached 2.70 million USD with stable demand, but new tariff notes by Botswana’s revenue authority may influence future pricing and compliance.

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

South Africa dominates with 96.24% of import value, followed by minor contributions from the U.S. (0.92%) and Zambia (0.22%).

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

Prices vary due to product mix: bulk items (e.g., 0.80 USD/kg) contrast with high-value specialties like protein concentrates (up to 72.67 USD/kg), sourced from distant markets like the U.S.

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

Prioritize relationships with dominant suppliers (e.g., DIS-CHEM) while diversifying to niche high-value suppliers to mitigate dependency risks.

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

South African bulk suppliers benefit from steady demand, while premium suppliers (e.g., U.S., China) have opportunities in high-margin specialized products.

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

Imports serve both price-sensitive bulk needs (e.g., raw ingredients) and quality-driven segments (e.g., finished protein concentrates).