Botswana Medicinal Products Import Market -- HS Code 3004 Trade Data & Price Trend (Aug 2025)

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) Key Takeaways

Botswana's medicinal products import under HS code 3004 in August 2025 is dominated by retail-ready mixed medicaments (89% value share), with South Africa as the primary supplier (38.7% value share) and a few manufacturers like ZOETIS and MERCK controlling 86% of trade. The market shows tentative recovery after U.S. tariff disruptions, with August imports rebounding to $4.42 million. High supplier concentration and reliance on South Africa pose supply chain risks, while niche opportunities exist in premium antibiotics and vitamins. This analysis is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database for August 2025.

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) Background

What is HS Code 3004?

HS Code 3004 covers medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, including pharmaceuticals and vaccines. These products are critical for healthcare systems globally, driving stable demand due to their essential role in disease treatment and prevention. Industries such as hospitals, pharmacies, and public health programs rely heavily on these imports, making them a strategically significant trade category.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States has imposed a 37% additional duty on all imports from Botswana, effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift underscores the need for vigilance in Botswana's Medicinal Products Import sector, particularly for HS Code 3004 trade data. Botswana's strategic significance lies in its role as a supplier of essential medicaments, and the new tariff environment may disrupt supply chains or alter trade dynamics. Stakeholders must monitor these developments closely to adapt to potential market shifts.

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's medicinal products import value under HS code 3004 reached 4.42 million USD in August 2025, marking a sequential increase from the previous month and reflecting ongoing adjustments in trade flows.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 3004 value trend exhibited significant volatility earlier in the year, with a sharp rise to 6.23 million USD in March followed by a drop to 4.02 million USD in April. This decline aligned with the U.S. administration's increase to 37% in additional duties on all imports from Botswana, effective April 9, 2025 [Global Trade Alert], which likely disrupted supply chains and raised import costs. Values then fluctuated through mid-year, with the August rebound from July's 4.06 million USD suggesting a market adaptation to policy shifts and stable underlying demand for essential medicinal products. The Botswana Medicinal Products Import trend continues to navigate these external pressures, with the recent sequential growth indicating a tentative recovery in import momentum.

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In August 2025, Botswana's import under HS Code 3004 for medicinal products is heavily dominated by mixed or unmixed medicaments for retail sale, specifically the sub-code 30049099. According to yTrade data, this product holds an 89% value share and 86% quantity share, with a unit price of 8.06 USD per unit. The significant price disparity—where other sub-codes range from 1.84 to 73.83 USD per unit—highlights its role as a mass-market, general-purpose offering, with a high-priced penicillin-based product (30041021 at 73.83 USD) standing out as a niche, low-volume anomaly.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports fall into two main categories: broad-spectrum mixed products and specialized formulations with specific active ingredients like hormones, vitamins, or alkaloids. This structure points to a trade in differentiated manufactured goods, not bulk commodities, as all items are packaged for retail use. The variety in compositions and prices suggests a market serving diverse therapeutic needs, from common ailments to more targeted treatments.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For businesses involved in Botswana HS Code 3004 import, the high concentration in mixed medicaments indicates strong pricing power for dominant suppliers, while opportunities exist in niche segments like high-value antibiotics or vitamins. Strategic focus should be on diversifying product portfolios or leveraging data from HS Code 3004 trade data to target underserved therapeutic areas, ensuring compliance and quality in a differentiated goods market.

Table: Botswana HS Code 3004) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa is the dominant source for Botswana's medicinal products imports in August 2025, accounting for 38.74% of the total import value. Its value share exceeds its quantity share by nearly 3 percentage points, indicating a preference for higher-grade or finished medicinal products from this origin. The high frequency of shipments from South Africa, at 33.06%, supports consistent supply of these premium items.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import origins can be grouped into two main clusters based on share profiles. The high-yield cluster includes Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where value shares outpace quantity shares, reflecting imports of premium-priced medicinal products, likely from advanced pharmaceutical industries. The volume cluster features India and France, with quantity shares surpassing value shares, suggesting bulk shipments of generic or lower-cost variants, possibly raw materials or components. South Africa's multifaceted role combines high value, quantity, and frequency, indicating it serves as a key hub for diverse medicinal supplies.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on South Africa for medicinal products imports highlights a supply chain vulnerability, particularly for high-value goods. To reduce dependency, sourcing could be diversified towards other premium suppliers like Germany or Switzerland. This strategy would enhance stability without compromising quality, ensuring consistent access to essential medicinal products.

Table: Botswana Medicinal Products (HS 3004) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Medicinal Products (HS 3004) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

The supplier structure for Botswana Medicinal Products Import suppliers in August 2025 shows high concentration. According to yTrade data, a small cluster of suppliers with high value and high frequency dominates, accounting for 86.43% of the total import value. This group handles most shipments, indicating that the typical trade involves regular, high-value deliveries from key sources.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The dominant suppliers, including ZOETIS and MERCK, are manufacturers, pointing to a direct-to-factory commercial persona for HS code 3004 suppliers. Other clusters include high-value low-frequency suppliers that may manage large but infrequent orders, and low-value groups with smaller, occasional contributions. This mix supports a varied but manufacturer-led supply chain.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For Botswana importers, the heavy dependence on a few manufacturers requires focus on maintaining strong supplier relationships and exploring diversification to reduce disruption risks. The concentration could lead to vulnerabilities if supply issues arise. According to BURS tariff notes, local import regulations might influence sourcing costs and strategies, so staying updated on policy changes is advised.

Table: Botswana Medicinal Products (HS 3004) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Medicinal Products Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your supplier base beyond the dominant manufacturers by using hs code 3004 trade data to identify and qualify alternative high-value suppliers in Europe, as this reduces vulnerability in the Medicinal Products supply chain and mitigates risks from over-reliance on a few key partners.
• Target niche, higher-margin products like specialized antibiotics or vitamins by analyzing unit price disparities in the hs code 3004 trade data, enabling you to capture underserved therapeutic segments and increase profitability within Botswana's Medicinal Products Import market.
• Strengthen contingency planning for Botswana Medicinal Products Import by monitoring shipment frequency and value from South Africa using trade data, ensuring alternative routing or stockpiling strategies to avoid disruptions in this critical supply corridor.
• Leverage hs code 3004 trade data to anticipate and adapt to regulatory or tariff changes affecting import costs, allowing you to adjust sourcing strategies proactively and maintain cost efficiency in your Medicinal Products supply chain.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Medicinal Products Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Medicinal Products Import 2025 August?

The August 2025 rebound to 4.42 million USD reflects market adaptation to U.S. tariff hikes in April, which had disrupted supply chains. Underlying demand remains stable, with mixed medicaments (HS 30049099) dominating 89% of imports.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Medicinal Products (HS Code 3004) 2025 August?

South Africa leads with 38.74% of import value, followed by Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (premium suppliers) and India/France (volume-focused origins).

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

Prices vary due to product specialization: South Africa and European suppliers provide high-grade finished products (e.g., 30041021 penicillin at 73.83 USD), while India/France ship lower-cost generics.

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

Prioritize diversifying suppliers beyond South Africa (e.g., Germany/Switzerland) to mitigate supply risks, while leveraging dominant manufacturers like ZOETIS for bulk mixed medicaments.

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

Suppliers from premium origins (e.g., Germany) can capitalize on Botswana’s demand for high-value products, while volume-focused exporters (e.g., India) face competition in generic segments.

Q6. How is Medicinal Products typically used in this trade flow?

Imports are retail-packaged differentiated goods, primarily mixed medicaments (86% volume share) for general use, alongside niche antibiotics/vitamins for targeted treatments.