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

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Key Takeaways

Botswana's plastic packaging imports (HS Code 3923) surged to $4.13 million in August 2025, driven by ultra-low-cost sacks and a spike in bulk procurement ahead of U.S. tariff hikes. The market is dominated by South Africa (72% of volume) and a handful of high-volume suppliers, creating efficiency but also concentration risk. While commodity-grade packaging dominates, niche high-value items like ethylene polymer bags command premium prices. Importers should prioritize volume discounts for bulk items while diversifying suppliers to mitigate geopolitical and cost pressures. This analysis covers August 2025 and 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 boxes, crates, and bottles, excluding sacks and bags. This category is critical for industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, where durable and lightweight packaging solutions are in high demand. Global trade in this sector remains stable due to consistent industrial and consumer needs for efficient packaging.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States recently increased additional duties on all imports from Botswana to 37%, effective April 9, 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 role as a supplier of plastic packaging is strategically significant, especially for regional trade flows, but rising tariffs may disrupt existing trade patterns. Monitoring these developments is essential to navigate potential risks and opportunities in the sector.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's plastic packaging import value surged to $4.13 million USD in August 2025, the highest monthly total of the year. This spike in import activity occurred alongside a sharp decline in the average unit price, which fell to $1.67 per kilogram, marking the lowest price point since March.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Plastic Packaging Import trend showed significant volatility through 2025, with import volumes surging in both March and August. The August volume of 2.47 million kg represents a 131% increase from July, indicating a major procurement push. This activity aligns directly with the U.S. administration's tariff increase to 37% on all imports from Botswana, effective April 9, 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. The substantial rise in volume, coupled with depressed unit prices, suggests importers accelerated purchases to lock in costs ahead of potential supply chain disruptions or further trade policy shifts. The hs code 3923 value trend reflects this strategic stockpiling, highlighting how trade policy can swiftly redirect import patterns and pricing.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import of HS Code 3923 in August 2025 is heavily concentrated in ultra-low-cost, high-volume plastic sacks and bags. The market is dominated by sub-code 39232940, which accounts for nearly half of all imported quantity but only 3.5% of total value due to an extremely low unit price of just $0.01 per unit. This massive volume of cheap sacks effectively defines the market's volume-driven nature, though its rock-bottom price makes it an outlier in the overall import structure.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports fall into two clear tiers. The first is a broad range of general-purpose bulk packaging like boxes, crates, bottles, and closures, which move at low to moderate unit prices between $0.10 and $1.70. The second tier consists of a few higher-value specialty items, such as ethylene polymer bags and plastic spools, which command prices from $4 to over $56 per unit. This structure shows Botswana's HS Code 3923 import is primarily for basic, fungible industrial packaging, with a small segment of more specialized, manufactured components.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For buyers in Botswana, this import breakdown for plastic packaging indicates strong negotiating power on bulk commodity items but limited leverage on niche, high-specification products. Suppliers of commodity packaging operate in a highly competitive, price-sensitive environment. Companies should focus their sourcing strategies for HS Code 3923 on securing volume discounts for standard items while identifying reliable partners for the smaller pool of higher-value goods where quality and consistency are critical.

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

Check Detailed HS Code 3923 Breakdown

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 August 2025, accounting for 85.34% of shipment frequency, 72.41% of quantity, and 67.67% of value. The value share is lower than the quantity share, indicating that imports from South Africa consist of bulk or lower-end Plastic Packaging, such as raw materials or basic components. The high frequency suggests frequent, small-scale shipments, typical for just-in-time supply chains in retail or manufacturing logistics.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import origins can be grouped into two clusters based on share profiles. The Volume/Hub Cluster includes South Africa and India, where high quantity shares (72.41% and 21.77% respectively) dominate value shares, pointing to trade in bulk, low-cost materials, likely due to regional proximity and cost efficiency. The High-Yield Cluster comprises Germany, China, France, and others, where value shares exceed quantity shares—for example, Germany's value share is 11.91% versus a 2.54% quantity share—indicating imports of higher-grade or finished Plastic Packaging, driven by demand for specialized, premium products in Botswana's market.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on South Africa for Plastic Packaging imports poses a supply chain risk, emphasizing the need to diversify sources, particularly for premium items from European and Asian suppliers. Analyzing HS Code 3923 trade data shows that exploring alternative partners like Germany or China could enhance stability and meet varied quality demands, without significant disruptions noted in recent news.

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

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Plastic Packaging (HS 3923) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana plastic packaging import supplier market was highly concentrated in August 2025. A single group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers dominated, accounting for 83% of the total import value. This group also handled 64% of the volume across 862 shipments, making them the core of the trade flow.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 3923 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory market. The dominant group includes major retail and packaging firms like WOOLWORTHS and PAL-PAK PTY LTD, suggesting direct sourcing for end-use. Other clusters play smaller roles: one handles large, infrequent bulk shipments (30% of volume, 12% of value), while two others manage smaller, routine deliveries with minimal value impact.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's import strategy relies heavily on a few key suppliers, creating efficiency but also concentration risk. The recent US tariff increase to 37% on all imports from Botswana [globaltradealert.org] adds cost pressure, though its direct impact on plastic packaging is unclear. Diversifying beyond the top cluster could mitigate potential supply or cost disruptions.

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 South Africa using hs code 3923 trade data to identify high-yield partners in Europe and Asia. This reduces the concentration risk in Botswana's Plastic Packaging Import market and secures access to specialized, higher-value products.
• Negotiate aggressive volume-based discounts for bulk commodity items by leveraging the detailed unit price data from the import breakdown. This directly lowers costs for the high-volume, low-value segment of the Plastic Packaging supply chain.
• Build strategic, long-term partnerships with the few suppliers of high-specification components to guarantee quality and consistent supply. This mitigates your lack of pricing power on niche goods that are critical for certain operations.
• Continuously monitor the hs code 3923 trade data for shifts in supplier behavior and cost structures, especially following the recent US tariff increase. This allows for proactive adjustments to your sourcing strategy to avoid unexpected cost inflation or supply disruptions.

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 August?

Botswana's plastic packaging imports surged to $4.13 million in August 2025, the highest monthly value of the year, driven by a 131% volume increase. This spike aligns with the U.S. tariff hike on Botswana imports, suggesting strategic stockpiling to mitigate future cost risks.

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

South Africa dominates, supplying 72.4% of quantity and 67.7% of value. India follows with 21.8% of volume, while Germany accounts for 11.9% of value despite a smaller 2.5% quantity share.

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

Prices vary due to product tiers: South Africa and India focus on bulk, low-cost items (e.g., $0.01 plastic sacks), while Germany and others supply high-value specialty products like ethylene polymer bags ($4–$56 per unit).

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

Prioritize volume discounts for commodity items (e.g., sub-code 39232940) while securing reliable partners for niche, high-spec products. Diversify beyond South Africa to mitigate supply chain risks.

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

Suppliers of bulk packaging face intense price competition, while niche-product exporters have leverage due to limited alternatives. South African suppliers benefit from entrenched logistics but must defend against diversification efforts.

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

Imports are primarily for basic industrial packaging (e.g., sacks, crates) and retail logistics, with a smaller segment of high-grade components like spools or specialty bags for manufacturing.