Botswana Plastic Packaging Import Market -- HS Code 3923 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s plastic packaging imports under HS code 3923 in April 2025 show a market stabilizing after early-year volatility, with South Africa dominating 87.96% of shipments for bulk, low-cost items while Germany and China supply higher-value niche products. The trade is highly concentrated among a few key suppliers, creating supply chain risks, but differentiated products like spools and closures offer better margins. This analysis, covering April 2025, is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Background

What is HS Code 3923?

HS Code 3923 covers plastics articles for the conveyance or packing of goods, including items like containers, bottles, and other packaging solutions. This category is critical for industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, where durable and lightweight packaging is essential. Global demand remains stable due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness in supply chains.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The U.S. recently increased additional duties on all imports from Botswana to 37%, effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift underscores the need for vigilance in Botswana's plastic packaging import market, particularly for HS Code 3923 trade data. Botswana's strategic role in regional trade and its reliance on plastic packaging for key exports highlight the importance of monitoring these changes. Market participants must adapt to evolving tariffs and supply chain dynamics to maintain competitiveness.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Price Trend

Key Observations

In April 2025, Botswana's Plastic Packaging imports reached 2.82 million USD, with a unit price of 2.84 USD per kg, marking a decline from the previous month's performance. This reflects a stabilization in pricing after volatility earlier in the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Plastic Packaging Import trend showed significant fluctuations in early 2025, with value peaking in February at 3.72 million USD before easing in March and April. The hs code 3923 value trend indicates a sequential decline, possibly driven by seasonal inventory adjustments post-holiday demand or broader economic factors like currency stability. The unit price drop in March to 1.61 USD per kg, coupled with higher volume, suggests bulk purchasing or competitive market pressures, while April's return to January levels points to market normalization. Without specific policy shocks, these movements align with typical import cycles for packaging materials, where demand often moderates after initial quarterly builds.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In April 2025, Botswana's import of plastic packaging under HS Code 3923 is heavily concentrated in standard plastic boxes and cases, according to yTrade data. The dominant product, plastic boxes, cases, crates, and similar articles (sub-code 39231000), represents over 32% of shipment frequency with a unit price of $3.46 per unit, highlighting a focus on mid-value packaging solutions. Extreme price anomalies are present, including high-value sacks at $64.57 per unit and ultra-low-value sacks at $0.01 per unit, which are isolated from the core market analysis due to their outlier nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports break into three clear categories based on product form and value. Mid-range items include plastic boxes and cases (39231000) and other packaging articles (39239090), with unit prices from $0.57 to $3.46. Flexible packaging like sacks and bags (39232190, 39232990) form another group, priced around $1.09 to $1.49 per unit. A third category covers accessories such as stoppers, lids, and spools (39235090, 39234090), where prices range from $0.75 to $6.41, indicating specialized, higher-value components. This structure shows trade in differentiated manufactured goods rather than fungible commodities, with value tied to specific applications.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers handling Botswana's HS Code 3923 trade data, pricing power varies significantly across product types. High-value accessories and specialized items command better margins, while standard packaging faces stronger competition. Strategic focus should prioritize sourcing differentiated products like spools and closures to leverage higher returns, while bulk items require cost efficiency. This analysis underscores the need for segmented sourcing strategies in Botswana's plastic packaging import market.

Table: Botswana HS Code 3923) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa is the dominant source for Botswana's Plastic Packaging imports in April 2025, supplying 87.96% of all shipments by frequency and 66.75% by value. The large gap between its high frequency share and lower value share points to a trade built on small-ticket, high-volume transactions. This pattern is typical for basic, cost-effective plastic packaging. South Africa also supplied 85.22% of the total import weight, but its lower value per kilogram confirms these are lower-grade or bulk items.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The remaining import partners form two clear clusters. The first is a high-yield group including Germany and China Mainland. They have a much higher value share (10.03% and 11.89%) than their weight share, indicating they supply more specialized, premium-grade Plastic Packaging products. The second is a transactional cluster with countries like Portugal, Tunisia, and Austria. They have very low volume but notable value contributions, suggesting they fulfill smaller orders for specific, higher-value niche products.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's supply chain for Plastic Packaging is heavily dependent on South Africa for its high-volume, low-cost needs. This creates a risk from any disruption to cross-border trade flows. The strategy should focus on maintaining this key relationship for bulk supplies. For diversification and accessing higher-quality products, developing stronger ties with partners in the high-yield cluster, particularly within the region or the EU, would be beneficial. This balances cost efficiency with quality and supply security for HS Code 3923 imports.

Table: Botswana Plastic Packaging (HS 3923) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Plastic Packaging (HS 3923) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the supplier structure for Botswana's plastic packaging imports in April 2025 is highly concentrated. High-value, high-frequency suppliers dominate, accounting for 84.06% of the import value and 74.57% of shipment frequency. This indicates that the typical trade involves reliable, large-scale partners who handle most of the volume and value for Botswana Plastic Packaging Import suppliers.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining clusters show varied roles: high-value, low-frequency suppliers contribute 9.79% of value with only 3.79% frequency, suggesting infrequent but significant orders. Low-value, high-frequency suppliers make up 1.94% of value with 13.19% frequency, likely representing small, routine shipments. Low-value, low-frequency suppliers account for 4.20% of value and 8.45% frequency, indicating minor, sporadic contributions. The dominant cluster, with companies like BESTPAK PTY LTD and HEINEKEN BEVERAGES INT PTY LTD, points to a direct-to-factory model for HS code 3923 suppliers, where end-users or manufacturers source packaging directly.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's import strategy should prioritize maintaining strong ties with dominant suppliers to ensure supply stability. However, the high concentration poses a risk to disruptions. External factors, such as the US increasing duties on all imports from Botswana to 37% effective April 9, 2025 [Global Trade Alert], could indirectly affect trade flows and costs. Diversifying suppliers may reduce vulnerability to such policy changes.

Table: Botswana Plastic Packaging (HS 3923) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Plastic Packaging Supplier lists

Action Plan for Plastic Packaging Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your supplier base beyond the dominant South African partners by analyzing hs code 3923 trade data to identify high-value, low-frequency suppliers from Germany and China. This reduces vulnerability to single-source disruptions and secures access to specialized, higher-margin products for the Botswana Plastic Packaging Import market.
• Segment your product sourcing strategy by prioritizing high-value accessories (e.g., stoppers, spools) identified in the import data over standard bulk items. This leverages the price premiums in the Plastic Packaging supply chain to improve profit margins on every shipment.
• Use hs code 3923 trade data to monitor the shipment frequency of low-value, high-volume suppliers for routine needs. This ensures cost-effective replenishment of standard packaging and prevents inventory shortages for core Botswana Plastic Packaging Import operations.
• Develop contingency plans for your Plastic Packaging supply chain by tracking policy alerts that could impact cross-border trade with South Africa. This proactive approach mitigates risks from external factors like sudden tariff changes, protecting your import flow and costs.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Plastic Packaging Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Plastic Packaging Import 2025 April?

Botswana's plastic packaging imports declined to 2.82 million USD in April 2025, with unit prices stabilizing at 2.84 USD per kg after earlier volatility. This reflects typical post-holiday demand adjustments and competitive market pressures.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Plastic Packaging (HS Code 3923) 2025 April?

South Africa dominates, supplying 87.96% of shipments by frequency and 66.75% by value. Germany and China Mainland follow, contributing 10.03% and 11.89% of value, respectively, for higher-grade products.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Plastic Packaging Import?

Price differences stem from product specialization: South Africa supplies low-cost bulk items (e.g., plastic boxes at $3.46/unit), while Germany and China provide premium accessories like spools and closures (up to $6.41/unit).

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Plastic Packaging?

Prioritize dominant suppliers like BESTPAK PTY LTD for bulk needs but diversify with high-yield partners (e.g., Germany) for specialized items to mitigate supply chain risks from over-reliance on South Africa.

Q5. What does this Botswana Plastic Packaging import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers in South Africa benefit from high-volume, low-margin demand, while German and Chinese exporters can leverage niche opportunities for high-value accessories like stoppers and spools.

Q6. How is Plastic Packaging typically used in this trade flow?

Imports under HS Code 3923 serve differentiated manufacturing needs, from standard boxes/cases (39231000) to specialized components like lids (39234090), indicating varied industrial applications.