Botswana Petroleum Gases Import Market -- HS Code 2711 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) Key Takeaways

Botswana's petroleum gases import under HS Code 2711 in April 2025 was dominated by bulk liquefied butanes, accounting for 93% of value, with unit prices softening 4% to $0.96/kg despite a 9.7% rise in total import value. The market shows extreme supplier concentration, with two firms handling 98% of volume, while South Africa supplied 99.8% of imports—creating significant supply chain vulnerability. This analysis of April 2025 trade is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) Background

What is HS Code 2711?

HS Code 2711 covers Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy-critical commodities. These products are essential for power generation, industrial heating, and chemical manufacturing, driving consistent global demand. Botswana's reliance on imports under this code reflects its energy infrastructure needs and industrial growth priorities.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Botswana recorded its highest Petroleum Gases Import value under HS Code 27111100 in June 2025 (USD 63.50K), signaling heightened demand [Market Inside Data]. This surge aligns with global tariff adjustments, such as the 2025 U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions, which may influence trade dynamics (finalCopy.pdf). Botswana's strategic position as an importer underscores its vulnerability to supply chain and pricing fluctuations, necessitating close monitoring of hs code 2711 trade data for energy security planning.

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) Price Trend

Key Observations

In April 2025, Botswana's import of Petroleum Gases under HS Code 2711 reached a value of 2.37 million USD, with a unit price of $0.96 per kg.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Petroleum Gases Import trend shows a consistent rise in total value from January's 2.16 million USD to April's 2.37 million USD, marking a 9.7% increase over four months. However, the unit price fell by 4% from $1.00 per kg to $0.96 per kg during the same period, while import weight grew, suggesting higher volumes amid softer global gas prices. This pattern aligns with typical industry cycles where increased supply or seasonal demand shifts, such as post-winter inventory builds, can pressure prices. The hs code 2711 value trend remains robust, likely supported by stable domestic energy consumption and broader economic factors like currency stability.

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In April 2025, Botswana's import of petroleum gases under HS Code 2711 is overwhelmingly dominated by liquefied butanes, specifically the sub-type described as 'Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons; liquefied, butanes'. According to yTrade data, this product accounts for over 93% of the import value and nearly 95% of the weight, with a unit price of approximately 0.95 US dollars per kilogram. This high concentration indicates a specialized focus on this specific grade. An extreme price anomaly is present in another sub-type for gaseous petroleum gases at over 82 US dollars per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its outlier nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports can be grouped into two main categories based on form and unit price. First, standard liquefied gases, including unspecified liquefied hydrocarbons and propane, with unit prices ranging from about 1.15 to 10.19 US dollars per kilogram, suggesting bulk, fungible commodities likely tied to global energy indices. Second, gaseous petroleum gases at around 9.60 US dollars per kilogram, indicating a possible niche or specialized application, though with minimal volume share. This structure shows that Botswana's HS Code 2711 import is primarily composed of undifferentiated bulk products, with minor involvement of higher-value grades.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the heavy reliance on bulk liquefied butanes under HS Code 2711 implies limited pricing power for importers, who must focus on competitive volume procurement and cost efficiency. The niche gaseous products offer potential for higher margins but represent a small market segment, requiring targeted sourcing strategies. Analyzing HS Code 2711 trade data for Botswana suggests that import strategies should prioritize securing stable supplies for dominant bulk imports while exploring opportunities in specialized grades to diversify risk.

Table: Botswana HS Code 2711) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 2711 Breakdown

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa is the dominant source for Botswana's Petroleum Gases imports in April 2025, supplying 99.81% of the total import value. Its 100% share of the total weight, slightly higher than its value share, confirms this role involves bulk shipments of a lower-value product. The country's 94.96% frequency share shows these are regular, high-volume deliveries. All other partners combined account for less than 0.2% of the value, making them negligible suppliers.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The trade forms two clear clusters. South Africa is the sole "Volume/Hub Cluster," representing nearly all physical volume. This points to its role as the primary bulk supplier of these gases, likely due to geographic proximity and established pipeline or truck transport logistics. The second group, consisting of South Korea and China Mainland, is a "Transactional Cluster." They show a much higher frequency share (3.36% and 1.68%) than their value shares (0.13% and 0.06%), indicating very small, perhaps spot-market or pilot shipments that do not contribute meaningful volume.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's import strategy for Petroleum Gases is almost entirely dependent on South Africa. This creates a significant supply chain risk from any regional disruption, such as transport issues or political changes. To build resilience, Botswana must actively develop alternative supply routes. Potential options include negotiating direct shipments from other major global producers or investing in larger storage capacity to hold strategic reserves, mitigating the impact of any short-term supply interruptions from its dominant neighbor.

Table: Botswana Petroleum Gases (HS 2711) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Petroleum Gases (HS 2711) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In April 2025, the market for Botswana's Petroleum Gases imports was highly concentrated, with a single supplier group handling nearly all trade volume and value. According to yTrade data, high-value and high-frequency suppliers dominated, accounting for 98.33% of the import value and 98.94% of the quantity. This group, including firms like TOTALGAZ SOUTHERN AFRICA PTY LTD and ORYX GAS SOUTH AFRICA PTY LTD, defined the typical trade for Botswana Petroleum Gases Import suppliers, characterized by large, regular shipments.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining supplier clusters played minor roles, with low-value but high-frequency providers contributing only 1.67% in value. The profile of HS code 2711 suppliers in the dominant group points to an intermediated market, as companies like TOTALGAZ and ORYX GAS are likely energy traders or agents, focusing on bulk commodity distribution. This structure leaves little room for other player types, reinforcing a centralized supply chain.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's import strategy for Petroleum Gases faces high vulnerability due to reliance on a few large suppliers, increasing risk of supply disruptions. Strategic focus should prioritize diversifying sources or negotiating backup contracts to mitigate dependency. The concentrated nature suggests a need for closer monitoring of supplier stability and market conditions.

Table: Botswana Petroleum Gases (HS 2711) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Petroleum Gases Supplier lists

Action Plan for Petroleum Gases Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your supplier base beyond the dominant players by using hs code 2711 trade data to identify and vet new, reliable partners, reducing vulnerability to supply disruptions within the Petroleum Gases supply chain.
• Develop alternative import routes not dependent on South Africa by analyzing global trade flows to negotiate direct shipments from other producing nations, mitigating the extreme geographic concentration risk for Botswana's Petroleum Gases Import.
• Explore niche, higher-margin product grades by segmenting hs code 2711 trade data to target specialized gaseous hydrocarbons, creating a diversified portfolio that is less exposed to bulk commodity price volatility.
• Implement real-time monitoring of supplier frequency and volume to anticipate stock cycles and market shifts, allowing for proactive inventory management and more competitive procurement for Botswana Petroleum Gases Import.
• Invest in strategic storage capacity to hold larger reserves of bulk liquefied butanes, providing a critical buffer against any short-term interruptions from primary suppliers and ensuring supply chain stability.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Petroleum Gases Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Petroleum Gases Import 2025 April?

The import value rose 9.7% to $2.37M from January to April 2025, driven by higher volumes despite a 4% drop in unit price ($0.96/kg), reflecting softer global gas prices and stable domestic demand.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Petroleum Gases (HS Code 2711) 2025 April?

South Africa dominates with 99.81% of import value and 100% of weight, while South Korea and China Mainland contribute negligible shares (<0.2% combined).

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Petroleum Gases Import?

Prices vary by product grade: bulk liquefied butanes (93% of imports) average $0.95/kg, while niche gaseous types (e.g., $9.60/kg) and an outlier ($82/kg) skew minor shipments.

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Petroleum Gases?

Prioritize securing bulk liquefied butane supplies from dominant suppliers like TOTALGAZ and ORYX GAS, while exploring niche gaseous products for diversification.

Q5. What does this Botswana Petroleum Gases import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

South African suppliers hold near-monopoly leverage, but niche producers (e.g., South Korea/China) could pilot small shipments for specialized high-margin applications.

Q6. How is Petroleum Gases typically used in this trade flow?

Primarily undifferentiated bulk liquefied butanes (95% of volume) suggest widespread use in energy or industrial applications, with minor specialized grades for niche uses.