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

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Medicinal Products Import under HS Code 3004 surged 72% in March 2025 to $6.23M, driven by bulk generics (89% of value) from dominant supplier India (85% of volume), while high-value European imports catered to niche demand. The market is highly concentrated, with top suppliers controlling 88.5% of value, creating supply chain risks. Unit prices fell 6.4% despite the rebound, reflecting competitive pressure in low-cost segments. This analysis, covering March 2025, is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

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. These products are critical for healthcare systems, pharmaceuticals, and preventive medicine, driving stable global demand due to their essential role in treatment and disease prevention. Botswana's Medicinal Products Import under this code reflects its reliance on these vital healthcare supplies.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The 2025 Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions highlight ongoing adjustments to duty rates and classification rules for imported merchandise, including medicinal products [USITC]. Botswana's customs and excise duties, including safeguards and anti-dumping measures, further shape the trade environment for HS Code 3004 [BURS]. Given Botswana's dependence on imports for healthcare needs, monitoring hs code 3004 trade data is crucial to ensure supply chain resilience and cost-effective access to these critical products. Strategic vigilance is needed to navigate tariff changes and maintain stable medicinal imports.

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) Price Trend

Key Observations

In March 2025, Botswana's imports of medicinal products under hs code 3004 surged to 6.23 million USD, with a unit price of 29.99 USD per kg, marking a significant recovery in value despite a continued decline in per-unit costs.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Medicinal Products Import trend showed strong momentum in March, with value jumping 72% month-over-month from February's 3.63 million USD, driven by a 83% increase in volume to 207.71 thousand kg, while unit prices fell 6.4% sequentially. This rebound aligns with typical first-quarter inventory builds in pharmaceutical supply chains, possibly influenced by earlier tariff adjustments. The BURS tariff notes released in January [BURS] may have encouraged higher import volumes by clarifying duty structures, supporting the hs code 3004 value trend's volatility.

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Botswana's import of HS Code 3004 in March 2025 is overwhelmingly dominated by general medicaments for retail sale (sub-code 30049099). According to yTrade data, this category accounted for 89% of the total import value and 97% of the quantity, with a low unit price of $1.87 per unit. One high-price product, hormone-based medicaments (30043990) at $36.07 per unit, stands out as a clear anomaly due to its significantly higher value but minimal volume share.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports are split into two clear groups. The first consists of various antibiotic medicaments, including those with penicillins or streptomycins and other antibiotics, which have mid-range unit prices between $4.41 and $18.30. The second group includes other specialized finished products like antimalarial preparations and corticosteroid-based medicaments. This structure, featuring multiple distinct finished product categories, shows that Botswana's HS Code 3004 import trade is in differentiated manufactured goods, not fungible commodities.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Analysis of HS Code 3004 trade data shows that market power for most imports lies with suppliers of the high-volume, low-price general medicaments. For other products, the variety of specialized offerings suggests buyers have more choice, which can limit individual supplier pricing power. Companies looking to engage in Botswana's import market for medicinal products should focus on either high-volume generics or very specific, high-value niche treatments.

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

Check Detailed HS Code 3004 Breakdown

Botswana Medicinal Products Import (HS 3004) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India is the dominant supplier of Medicinal Products to Botswana in March 2025, accounting for 34.94% of the total import value. However, its share of the quantity is far larger at 85.87%, indicating its shipments consist of lower-cost, bulk ingredients or generic medicines. South Africa plays a crucial secondary role, providing 24.82% of the value from 26.52% of all shipments, which points to its function as a major and regular logistics gateway for these goods.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The suppliers form two clear clusters. The first is a bulk and logistics cluster, consisting of India and South Africa, supplemented by Zimbabwe. This group provides the vast majority of the physical volume, suggesting a focus on cost-effective active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and established regional supply routes. The second is a high-value cluster, including Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, and the UK. These partners ship smaller quantities but achieve a higher value, indicating they supply specialized, branded, or finished-dose medicines that command premium prices.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's import structure for HS Code 3004 shows a strategic reliance on India for bulk supply and South Africa for frequent logistics, creating potential vulnerability to disruptions from either origin. Diversifying the bulk supply base beyond India would mitigate concentration risk. Meanwhile, the high-value European supply channel appears stable for niche needs. Maintaining these separate channels ensures access to both affordable generics and specialized treatments.

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

According to yTrade data, the Botswana Medicinal Products Import suppliers market in March 2025 is highly concentrated. The dominant group consists of high-value, high-frequency suppliers, accounting for 88.52% of the import value. This cluster handles 91.40% of the quantity and 86.17% of the shipment frequency, defining the typical trade as large-volume, regular imports from key partners.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining clusters include high-value, low-frequency suppliers with 6.51% value share and low-value groups with minimal impact. The dominant suppliers, such as P & G South Africa, represent a direct-to-factory sourcing model, as they are major manufacturers. This structure for hs code 3004 suppliers shows a market driven by established producers, with limited intermediation.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For Botswana importers, the heavy reliance on a few high-value suppliers requires a strategic focus on relationship management to mitigate supply risks. Diversifying into smaller clusters could reduce vulnerability. Tariff changes, as highlighted in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule [Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2025) Revision 5], may affect costs, necessitating ongoing policy review to optimize sourcing strategies.

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

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Action Plan for Medicinal Products Market Operation and Expansion

• Analyze hs code 3004 trade data to diversify bulk suppliers beyond India, reducing concentration risk in Botswana's Medicinal Products Import supply chain.
• Use supplier frequency data to strengthen relationships with key high-volume partners, ensuring reliable access and mitigating disruptions in the Medicinal Products supply chain.
• Monitor specialized product categories within hs code 3004 to target high-value niches, boosting profit margins for Botswana Medicinal Products Import.
• Review tariff policies and adapt sourcing strategies using trade data, optimizing costs and maintaining competitiveness in the Medicinal Products supply chain.
• Enhance logistics coordination with South African suppliers based on trade flow analysis, improving efficiency for frequent shipments in Botswana's Medicinal Products Import.

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 March?

The surge in import value (72% month-over-month) is driven by a rebound in volume (83% increase) and lower unit prices (-6.4%), likely due to first-quarter inventory builds and clarified tariff structures.

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

India dominates with 34.94% of import value and 85.87% of quantity, followed by South Africa (24.82% value share), reflecting their roles as bulk supplier and logistics gateway, respectively.

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

Price differences stem from India’s low-cost generics ($1.87/unit) versus high-value European suppliers (e.g., Germany, France) shipping specialized treatments like hormone-based medicaments ($36.07/unit).

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

Importers should prioritize relationship management with dominant high-volume suppliers (e.g., P & G South Africa) while diversifying bulk sourcing beyond India to mitigate supply risks.

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

Suppliers of generics (India) benefit from bulk demand, while European niche producers retain stable high-value opportunities due to Botswana’s dual-channel reliance.

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

Botswana’s imports are primarily retail-ready general medicaments (89% value share), supplemented by specialized treatments like antibiotics and antimalarials for differentiated healthcare needs.