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

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Food Preparations import under HS Code 2106 in March 2025 reveals a dual market: bulk commodities dominate at 45% share (1.99 USD/kg), while niche high-value products like protein concentrates (5.80–28.34 USD/kg) offer margin potential. The market rebounded in volume (1.48M kg) after February’s price spike, signaling stabilization. Supplier concentration is high, with top players handling 90% of trade, increasing supply chain risks. South Africa supplies 96% of imports, exposing Botswana to regional dependency. This analysis, covering March 2025, is based on cleanly processed 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, including a wide range of processed or blended food products. These are typically used in the food service, retail, and manufacturing sectors, driving stable global demand due to their versatility in culinary applications. Botswana's imports under this code reflect both consumer preferences and industrial needs for specialized food ingredients.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Recent updates to Botswana's tariff notes highlight regulatory scrutiny on imported goods, including ships and related machinery, which may indirectly impact logistics for Botswana's food preparations import [BURS]. Meanwhile, global trade shifts, such as the Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions (USITC), underscore the need for vigilance in tracking HS Code 2106 trade data. Botswana's reliance on imports for these products positions it as a strategic market, requiring close monitoring of supply chain dynamics and policy changes.

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's Food Preparations import value for March 2025 reached $2.51 million, reflecting a slight sequential softening from February's $2.45 million. The unit price settled at $1.70/kg, a notable decline from the previous month's elevated level of $2.36/kg.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Food Preparations Import trend showed significant volatility in early 2025, with February's import volume dropping sharply to 1.04 million kg amid a unit price surge. The March rebound in import volume to 1.48 million kg, coupled with the price correction, suggests some rebalancing in supply channels or purchasing patterns. This movement aligns with broader regional trade adjustments, including tariff schedule refinements noted in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2025) Revision 5 that may have influenced global food preparation trade flows. The hs code 2106 value trend indicates resilient demand despite monthly fluctuations, likely supported by steady consumer needs for processed food items.

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's HS Code 2106 import in March 2025 is dominated by general food preparations under sub-code 21069090, which holds a 45% value share with a unit price of 1.99 USD per kilogram. This indicates a focus on standardized, bulk-oriented products. An extreme price anomaly exists for a specialized preparation at 613.13 USD per kilogram, but it is isolated from the main analysis due to its minimal volume.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports show a clear split into bulk commodities and higher-value items. Bulk preparations, like those under 21069020 at 0.93 USD per kilogram, make up nearly half the volume, suggesting fungible trade. Mid-range products, such as protein concentrates priced between 5.80 and 7.07 USD per kilogram, and a high-grade preparation at 28.34 USD per kilogram, point to a market with differentiated, value-added goods alongside commodities.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This structure implies limited pricing power for bulk importers, who must compete on cost, while opportunities exist in niche, high-value segments. Businesses should focus on sourcing or developing specialized products to capture margins, as HS Code 2106 trade data reveals a dual market of volume-driven and quality-driven imports.

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

Check Detailed HS Code 2106 Breakdown

Botswana Food Preparations Import (HS 2106) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa is the dominant source for Botswana's Food Preparations imports in March 2025, accounting for 95.89% of the value and 98.91% of the weight. The value share is slightly lower than the weight share, suggesting that imports from South Africa consist of bulk or lower-end variants of Food Preparations, such as basic processed foods or ingredients. The high frequency of shipments at 95.31% indicates regular, small-ticket trade, likely driven by retail demand or perishable goods logistics. This pattern points to a heavy reliance on South Africa for Botswana's Food Preparations supply chain.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The remaining import partners form a High-Yield Cluster, where value shares exceed weight shares significantly. Countries like Denmark, Netherlands, China Mainland, Georgia, Singapore, Italy, Eswatini, Nigeria, and the United States contribute small volumes but higher value per weight, indicating niche or premium Food Preparations, such as specialty or branded food products. A Transactional Cluster includes the United States and Italy, with frequency shares higher than value shares, suggesting frequent, small shipments that could support just-in-time supply chains or e-commerce flows for HS Code 2106 goods. These clusters reflect diversified sourcing for higher-margin items alongside the dominant bulk imports.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's import strategy for Food Preparations is highly dependent on South Africa, which poses risks to supply chain stability due to potential disruptions. To mitigate this, diversifying sources among the High-Yield Cluster countries could reduce dependency and introduce more premium product options. Monitoring trade data for HS Code 2106 will help identify shifts in sourcing patterns, ensuring a balanced approach between bulk efficiency and niche variety. No relevant policy changes from the provided news context impact this analysis directly.

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

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Food Preparations (HS 2106) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In March 2025, the Botswana Food Preparations import market shows strong supplier concentration. According to yTrade data, high-value and high-frequency suppliers dominate, handling over 90% of the import value. These suppliers are the core of the trade, with frequent shipments accounting for most of the volume and value, defining the typical import pattern for this product.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining supplier groups play smaller roles, with low-value or low-frequency shipments contributing minimally to overall trade. The dominant high-value, high-frequency cluster includes companies like VECTOR LOGISTICS PTY LTD, which points to an intermediated market where logistics firms manage bulk shipments. The profile of HS code 2106 suppliers suggests that large-scale, regular importers are key, while other clusters serve niche or occasional needs.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in Botswana, this structure implies high reliance on a few key suppliers, increasing vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. Strategic focus should include maintaining strong relationships with dominant suppliers while exploring alternatives in lower-frequency clusters for risk diversification. The concentrated nature calls for careful monitoring of logistics and potential regulatory changes, as indicated by recent customs updates from BURS.

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

• Diversify sourcing beyond South Africa using hs code 2106 trade data to identify high-value suppliers in countries like Denmark or the Netherlands, reducing supply chain vulnerability for Botswana's Food Preparations Import.
• Build relationships with both high-frequency bulk suppliers and niche low-frequency providers to balance cost efficiency and premium product access, strengthening the overall Food Preparations supply chain.
• Monitor shipment frequency and volume patterns to optimize inventory levels, avoiding overstock for bulk items while securing limited high-margin products.
• Develop specialized product offerings targeting the premium segment revealed by trade data, capturing higher margins in Botswana’s Food Preparations Import market.
• Use real-time customs and logistics updates to anticipate disruptions, ensuring continuity in the Food Preparations supply chain dominated by key regional partners.

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 March?

The March 2025 rebound in import volume (1.48M kg) and price correction ($1.70/kg) reflects rebalancing after February’s volatility, likely due to supply chain adjustments or tariff influences.

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

South Africa dominates with 95.89% of import value, followed by niche suppliers like Denmark and the Netherlands in the High-Yield Cluster.

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

Prices vary due to product mix: bulk commodities (e.g., 21069020 at $0.93/kg) contrast with premium items (e.g., protein concentrates at $5.80–$28.34/kg).

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

Prioritize relationships with high-frequency suppliers (e.g., VECTOR LOGISTICS) while diversifying into High-Yield Cluster countries for premium products to mitigate supply risks.

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

South African bulk suppliers have stable demand, while niche exporters (e.g., EU/US) can target Botswana’s growing premium segment with specialized preparations.

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

Imports are split between bulk commodities for cost-sensitive uses and higher-value items like protein concentrates for specialized food applications.