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

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) Key Takeaways

Botswana's Petroleum Gases import under HS Code 2711 in May 2025 surged to $2.53M, its highest monthly value that year, driven by bulk liquefied butanes—a standardized commodity with little pricing power. The market is dangerously concentrated, with South Africa supplying 99.5% of volume and two suppliers controlling 92.6% of value, creating severe supply chain vulnerability. This analysis, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, reveals a high-risk trade reliant on a single origin and minimal supplier diversification.

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) Background

What is HS Code 2711?

HS Code 2711 covers Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons, a critical energy commodity used across industries like power generation, manufacturing, and transportation. Its global demand remains stable due to its role as a cleaner alternative to solid fuels and its versatility in industrial processes. Botswana's reliance on imports under this code reflects its limited domestic production capacity for these energy resources.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The 2025 Harmonized Tariff Schedule highlights ongoing adjustments to tariff treatments for imported goods, including petroleum gases, which could impact Botswana's import costs [USITC]. Additionally, Botswana's tariff agreements with MERCOSUR member states may influence trade flows for HS Code 2711 products [BURS]. Monitoring Botswana's petroleum gases import trends is essential, as shifts in global energy prices or regional trade policies could disrupt supply chains. Analyzing HS Code 2711 trade data provides insights into Botswana's energy security and economic resilience in a volatile market.

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) Price Trend

Key Observations

In May 2025, Botswana's imports of Petroleum Gases under HS code 2711 reached a value of 2.53 million USD at a unit price of $1.00 per kg, marking the highest monthly value in the year so far.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Petroleum Gases Import trend shows a consistent upward trajectory in total value from January's 2.16 million USD, with May's figure representing a 4.3% month-over-month increase from April. Unit prices experienced volatility, rising to $1.14 per kg in March before a sharp drop in April to $0.96 per kg and a recovery in May; this aligns with potential adjustments in import costs due to tariff structure changes outlined in Botswana's 2025 schedule [BURS]. The hs code 2711 value trend suggests strengthening demand, possibly driven by industrial energy needs or inventory builds ahead of seasonal shifts, while weight volumes rebounded strongly in April and May after earlier declines.

Botswana Petroleum Gases Import (HS 2711) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import of HS Code 2711 in May 2025 is heavily concentrated in liquefied butanes. The sub-code for butanes accounts for 59.7% of the total import value and 61.0% of the weight, with a unit price of $0.98 per kilogram. A minor but notable high-price anomaly exists for a gaseous product priced at $356.69 per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its extreme unit cost and negligible volume.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports are split into two clear groups based on form. The first group consists of other liquefied petroleum gases, like propane and n.e.c. hydrocarbons, which trade at a consistent bulk commodity price range of $0.98 to $1.05 per kilogram. The second group includes various gaseous state products, which have much lower volumes and higher per-kilogram prices than the liquefied bulk flows. This structure confirms that Botswana's HS Code 2711 trade is dominated by fungible, bulk commodities with prices linked to energy markets.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The heavy reliance on standardized, bulk liquefied gases means importers have little pricing power and must focus on securing favorable supply contracts and logistics. For businesses analyzing HS Code 2711 trade data, the strategic priority should be on managing volume and cost efficiency in sourcing these commodity products, rather than seeking product differentiation.

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

Botswana's Petroleum Gases import in May 2025 is almost entirely dependent on one supplier. South Africa provided 99.52% of the total import value and 99.99% of the weight. This huge gap between the weight share and value share confirms the trade is for bulk, lower-value raw material. The remaining 0.48% of value was split between three other countries.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

All other suppliers form a single, small High-Yield Cluster. The United States, Australia, and China mainland each had minimal import frequency and volume. However, their shipments carried a significantly higher unit price per kilogram than the dominant bulk flow from South Africa. This suggests these were likely smaller, specialized orders of higher-grade or differently processed Petroleum Gases for specific industrial or commercial needs.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's import supply chain for HS Code 2711 is extremely vulnerable due to its near-total reliance on South Africa. Any disruption to this single route would severely impact the energy sector. A clear strategy is needed to diversify sourcing. Developing relationships with the existing high-yield partners could provide a foundation for securing more regular, alternative supplies to mitigate this concentration risk.

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

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Botswana Petroleum Gases (HS 2711) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana Petroleum Gases import supplier market in May 2025 is highly concentrated. A small group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers dominates, accounting for 92.56% of the total import value and 78.81% of all shipments. This means the typical trade involves large, regular deliveries from a core group of partners, with the median shipment being a substantial volume of product.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 2711 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory market. The dominant group, including companies like AML INNOVATION PTY LTD and EASIGAS, appears to consist of primary distributors or producers supplying bulk liquefied gas directly to large off-takers. The other clusters play minor roles: a few suppliers make occasional large deliveries, a group provides frequent but very small shipments, and another set makes infrequent, moderate-volume deliveries. This structure points to a market reliant on a few key bulk suppliers for core needs.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's sourcing strategy for petroleum gases carries high dependency risk. Relying so heavily on just two suppliers for over 90% of value creates significant vulnerability to supply disruptions or price changes from those partners. Importers should prioritize developing alternative supply relationships from the smaller clusters to diversify risk. This is particularly important as external tariff arrangements, like those noted in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2025), may influence global trade flows and costs.

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 sourcing beyond South Africa using hs code 2711 trade data to identify and qualify new suppliers from the existing high-yield cluster (e.g., U.S., Australia), as this mitigates the extreme vulnerability of the Petroleum Gases supply chain to a single origin country.
• Develop secondary supply partnerships with the smaller, infrequent suppliers identified in the data to reduce dependency on the two dominant high-frequency partners and build a more resilient Botswana Petroleum Gases Import strategy.
• Use shipment frequency and volume data from the hs code 2711 trade data to optimize inventory planning and lock in long-term contracts with core suppliers, securing stable bulk commodity pricing and preventing supply gaps.
• Monitor the high-unit-price, low-volume shipments from the minor cluster for specialty gas needs, as this provides early signals for new industrial demand that could require a dedicated sourcing strategy within the broader Petroleum Gases supply chain.

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 May?

The import value reached a 2025 high of $2.53 million, driven by strengthening demand and volatile unit prices linked to tariff adjustments. Bulk liquefied butanes dominated trade flows, accounting for 59.7% of import value.

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

South Africa supplied 99.52% of import value, with minimal contributions from the United States, Australia, and China mainland (0.48% combined).

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

South Africa’s bulk liquefied gases trade at $0.98/kg, while the high-yield cluster (US, Australia, China) ships specialized gaseous products priced significantly higher.

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

Importers must prioritize supply chain diversification, as 92.56% of value relies on just two suppliers, creating vulnerability to disruptions.

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

Non-South African suppliers have niche opportunities for high-value specialized gases, but bulk market access requires competing with entrenched South African distributors.

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

The dominance of standardized liquefied butanes (61% of weight) indicates industrial-scale use, likely for energy or feedstock in direct-to-factory applications.