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

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s plastic packaging imports under HS Code 3923 in July 2025 reveal a market split between high-margin specialized products like plastic boxes and low-cost bulk items, with South Africa dominating 65% of import value but 92% of volume. The trade is highly concentrated among a few key suppliers, creating supply chain risks, while import values dipped to $2.93 million after a volatile first half of 2025, likely impacted by U.S. trade restrictions. This analysis, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, highlights Botswana’s reliance on cost-effective bulk sourcing alongside niche high-value opportunities.

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, excluding specific items like boxes, sacks, and bottles. This category is critical for industries such as logistics, food packaging, and consumer goods, where durable and lightweight plastic packaging is essential. Global demand remains stable due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness in supply chains.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States 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 sector, particularly for HS Code 3923 trade data. Botswana's role as a supplier of plastic packaging is now under heightened scrutiny, making market monitoring essential to navigate tariff impacts and maintain trade flows. Strategic adjustments may be required to mitigate risks and capitalize on alternative markets.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Price Trend

Key Observations

In July, Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS code 3923 totaled $2.93 million at an average unit price of $2.75 per kilogram, marking a pullback from the previous month's peak.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Plastic Packaging Import trend showed heightened volatility through the first half of 2025, with import value climbing from $2.53 million in January to $3.59 million in June before July's decline. This fluctuation aligns with the US administration's imposition of a 37% additional duty on all imports from Botswana [Global Trade Alert], effective April 9, which likely constrained Botswana's foreign exchange and import capacity. The hs code 3923 value trend reflects adaptive trade patterns, with unit price swings from $1.61 to $3.78 per kilogram indicating shifts in sourcing or inventory adjustments amid broader economic pressures.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import activities for HS Code 3923 in July 2025 are heavily concentrated on high-value plastic boxes and cases. The top sub-code, 39231000 for plastic boxes and cases, holds a 24.2% value share despite accounting for only 1.8% of the total quantity, indicating a specialized, higher-margin product with a unit price of $2.38 per kilogram. One outlier, plastic spools and bobbins (39234090), shows an extreme unit price of $151.52 per kilogram but is isolated from the main market due to its minimal quantity share.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports form two clear tiers. A mid-value segment includes various plastic sacks, bags, and general articles, with unit prices ranging from $0.65 to $2.78 per kilogram. A low-value, high-volume segment consists of plastic closures (lids, caps) and bottles, with very low unit prices under $0.30 per kilogram but high quantity shares. This structure shows Botswana's HS Code 3923 trade data reveals a mix of differentiated, semi-finished goods rather than a purely commoditized bulk market.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Suppliers of specialized items like boxes and cases hold stronger pricing power due to their value-added nature. Importers should focus on diversifying sources for high-volume, low-cost items like closures to manage costs, while targeting niche opportunities in higher-margin products. The analysis of Botswana HS Code 3923 import patterns suggests a market where product specificity, not just volume, drives profitability.

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 dominates Botswana's Plastic Packaging imports for July 2025. It accounts for 65% of the total import value but 92% of the quantity and 84% of the shipment frequency. This gap between value share and quantity share points to high-volume, lower-unit-cost shipments. The high frequency suggests regular, possibly daily, deliveries of these packaging materials to support local manufacturing or retail distribution chains.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import partners form two clear clusters. Germany and China Mainland form a "High-Yield Cluster," contributing significant import value (16% and 7.5% respectively) with relatively lower physical volumes, indicating supplies of higher-value or more specialized packaging. All other partners, including Portugal, the UK, and Tunisia, form a "Niche Supplier Cluster." They have very low shipment frequency and volume but notable value per shipment, suggesting they fulfill small orders for premium or custom-designed plastic packaging solutions.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's supply chain for Plastic Packaging is highly dependent on South Africa for bulk needs. This creates a risk if there are disruptions in cross-border logistics. To build resilience, importers should develop secondary sourcing options from the established European and Asian partners for critical or high-value items. The market performance for HS Code 3923 shows a need to balance cost-effective bulk sourcing with securing diversified suppliers for specialized products.

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

In July 2025, the Botswana plastic packaging import market showed strong concentration, with a few suppliers handling most of the trade. According to yTrade data, high-value, high-frequency suppliers dominated, accounting for 80.77% of the import value and 66.67% of shipment frequency. This group also represented 94.58% of the quantity, indicating that typical imports involve large, regular shipments from key players like FAMOUS BRANDS MANAGEMENT COMPANY and SHOPRITE CHECKERS PTY LTD. The Botswana plastic packaging import suppliers' market is thus characterized by reliance on a small number of high-volume importers.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining supplier clusters play smaller but distinct roles. High-value, low-frequency suppliers contribute 15.08% of value with infrequent, possibly specialized shipments, while low-value groups handle smaller shares with more frequent or occasional orders. The dominant high-value, high-frequency cluster, represented by companies such as retailers or brand managers, suggests a commercial persona focused on direct end-use rather than intermediation. The profile of HS code 3923 suppliers points to an end-user driven market, where imports are likely for internal packaging needs rather than resale.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For Botswana importers, the heavy reliance on a few high-volume suppliers requires a strategic focus on relationship management and supply chain stability. The risk of disruption is heightened due to this concentration, suggesting a need to explore diversification into other clusters for backup options. Import regulations, such as those outlined in tariff notes from BURS [BURS], could impact costs and should be monitored closely to mitigate vulnerabilities in the sourcing model.

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 Plastic Packaging supply chain by developing secondary sourcing options from Germany and China to reduce over-reliance on South Africa, ensuring stability for critical high-value imports under HS code 3923.
• Use hs code 3923 trade data to target high-margin products like specialized plastic boxes and cases, focusing procurement on items with stronger pricing power to improve profit margins in the Botswana Plastic Packaging Import market.
• Analyze niche European and Asian suppliers from the trade data for low-frequency, high-value shipments to secure custom or premium packaging solutions, reducing vulnerability to supply disruptions in the Plastic Packaging supply chain.
• Negotiate cost-effective long-term contracts for high-volume, low-cost items like closures and bottles with key suppliers, leveraging detailed hs code 3923 trade data to manage bulk procurement efficiently and maintain competitive pricing.
• Monitor Botswana import regulations and tariff updates closely using official sources like BURS, adjusting sourcing strategies promptly to avoid cost penalties and ensure compliance within the Botswana Plastic Packaging Import operations.

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 July?

Botswana's plastic packaging imports declined to $2.93 million in July 2025 after peaking in June, with volatile unit prices ($1.61-$3.78/kg) due to US trade restrictions and foreign exchange constraints.

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

South Africa dominates (65% value, 92% quantity), followed by Germany (16% value) and China (7.5% value), forming distinct high-volume and high-yield sourcing clusters.

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

Prices vary by product grade: high-value plastic boxes/cases (e.g., 39231000 at $2.38/kg) contrast with low-cost bulk items like closures (under $0.30/kg), reflecting specialized vs. commoditized goods.

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

Prioritize diversifying suppliers for bulk items (e.g., closures) to mitigate South Africa dependency, while targeting niche high-margin products like specialized cases from Germany/China.

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

Suppliers of specialized items (e.g., boxes, spools) hold pricing power, while bulk exporters must compete on cost due to Botswana’s reliance on high-volume, low-margin shipments.

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

Imports are primarily for end-use commercial packaging (e.g., retail, manufacturing), driven by dominant buyers like FAMOUS BRANDS MANAGEMENT COMPANY and SHOPRITE CHECKERS PTY LTD.