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

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Key Takeaways

In March 2025, Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS Code 3923 showed a mix of high-value specialized items like boxes and sacks alongside bulk commodity products, with unit prices ranging from $0.05 to $182.94. The market exhibited volatility, easing from February's surge but remaining above January levels at $3.02 million in value. Supplier concentration is high, with a few logistics firms handling over 83% of imports, creating efficiency but also vulnerability. South Africa dominates as the origin, supplying 85.7% of quantity but only 70.01% of value, signaling bulk trade, while Germany and China offer higher-value niche products. Strategic opportunities lie in diversifying sourcing and targeting differentiated high-margin segments. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for March 2025.

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 packaging materials. 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.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS Code 3923 are influenced by regional trade policies, such as Namibia's seasonal restrictions on certain imports [BURS]. This highlights the importance of monitoring regulatory changes in neighboring markets. Botswana's strategic position as a landlocked economy makes it reliant on efficient plastic packaging imports to support its manufacturing and retail sectors. Tracking hs code 3923 trade data is essential for businesses to navigate these dynamics and maintain supply chain resilience. Vigilance is key as regional policies and global material costs continue to shape the market.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Price Trend

Key Observations

In March 2025, Botswana's imports of plastic packaging under HS code 3923 reached a value of 3.02 million USD at a unit price of $1.61 per kg, reflecting a moderation from February's high but maintaining strength above January's levels.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Plastic packaging Import trend exhibited notable volatility in early 2025, with value surging 47% month-over-month to 3.72 million USD in February before easing in March, while volume nearly doubled sequentially to 1.88 million kg. This pattern aligns with typical inventory cycles in packaging, where bulk purchases often precede peak demand seasons, and may be partly driven by regional trade policies such as tariff rate quotas outlined by [BURS], which can influence import timing and cost structures. The hs code 3923 value trend demonstrates adaptive sourcing strategies in response to market conditions.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In March 2025, Botswana's import of HS Code 3923 is heavily concentrated on plastic boxes and cases, which account for the largest value share. According to yTrade data, the sub-code for plastic boxes and cases (HS Code 39231000) dominates with a unit price of $3.27 per unit, indicating a focus on higher-value packaging solutions. Extreme price anomalies are present and isolated from the main analysis: one sub-code for spools and supports has a very high unit price of $182.94 per unit, while another for ethylene polymer sacks has a very low unit price of $0.05 per unit, suggesting niche or bulk specialty items.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports under Botswana HS Code 3923 Import can be grouped into two categories based on unit price and product form. Higher-value items include specialized sacks and bags with unit prices around $1.59 to $1.65 per unit, and stoppers and lids at $0.78 per unit, representing more finished goods. Lower-value bulk items consist of general plastic articles and bottles with unit prices from $0.16 to $0.43 per unit, indicating commodity-like, high-volume products. This structure shows a mix of differentiated manufactured goods rather than uniform bulk commodities, with clear grade variations.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, pricing power is stronger for specialized, higher-unit-price products like boxes and certain bags, where differentiation allows for better margins. Strategic focus should prioritize these segments to capitalize on value addition, while the bulk lower-price items may face more competitive pressure. Analyzing HS Code 3923 trade data reveals opportunities to target niche high-end markets within Botswana's import landscape.

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 origin for Botswana's plastic packaging imports in March 2025, supplying 85.7% of the quantity and 70.01% of the value. The lower value share compared to the quantity share indicates a trade primarily in bulk, lower-cost, or raw material forms of plastic packaging, rather than high-value finished goods. South Africa also accounts for 86.05% of all import transactions, showing its role as the primary and frequent supplier for this market.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The other suppliers form two clear clusters. Germany and China Mainland form a high-yield cluster; they provide a combined 19.54% of the import value with a much smaller 7.14% share of the quantity, pointing to shipments of higher-value or more specialized packaging products. A second, transactional cluster includes Portugal, Tunisia, Austria, and Thailand. These partners have a collective frequency share of over 2% but minimal quantity, suggesting they fulfill smaller, likely custom or niche orders for specific plastic packaging needs.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's import strategy for plastic packaging is heavily dependent on South Africa for bulk supply, creating a significant concentration risk. The high-frequency shipments from there support a just-in-time supply chain but increase exposure to any regional disruptions. The data from [tariffnumber.com] shows this activity falls under HS Code 3923, which covers various plastic packaging goods. Diversifying sourcing toward the high-yield European and Chinese partners could mitigate risk and add product sophistication, though this must be balanced against the cost advantages of the current dominant trade route for HS Code 3923 imports.

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 March 2025. A core group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers dominated trade, accounting for over 83% of the total import value. This group also handled the vast majority of shipment volume and frequency, defining the typical trade flow for this product.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 3923 suppliers indicates an intermediated market. The dominant group includes major logistics and retail distribution companies, suggesting imports are channeled through established supply chains. The remaining supplier clusters play smaller, specialized roles. Some provide significant volume in fewer shipments, while others handle many smaller, lower-value orders.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's import strategy for plastic packaging relies heavily on a few key logistics partners. This creates efficiency but also concentration risk. Diversifying sources among the lower-frequency, high-volume suppliers could mitigate supply chain disruptions. The release of new tariff notes by BURS [BURS] in early 2025 makes reviewing customs procedures essential for maintaining cost-effective imports under this current supplier structure.

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

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Action Plan for Plastic Packaging Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 3923 trade data to diversify sourcing beyond South Africa toward high-yield partners like Germany and China, reducing geographic concentration risk in Botswana's Plastic packaging Import supply chain.
• Target imports of specialized, higher-unit-price items like boxes and certain bags to capture better margins, as these segments within Botswana's Plastic packaging Import market show stronger pricing power.
• Analyze supplier frequency and volume data to negotiate better terms with core logistics partners, securing cost advantages for the bulk of Botswana's Plastic packaging Import flow.
• Monitor new BURS tariff notes and customs procedures regularly to avoid cost penalties and maintain efficiency across the entire Plastic packaging supply chain for hs code 3923 trade.

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 March?

The March 2025 import value of $3.02 million reflects a moderation from February's surge, likely due to seasonal inventory cycles and bulk purchases ahead of peak demand. The volatility aligns with adaptive sourcing strategies in response to market conditions.

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

South Africa dominates with 85.7% of quantity and 70.01% of value, followed by Germany and China Mainland, which contribute 19.54% of value but only 7.14% of quantity.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization: South Africa supplies bulk, lower-cost items, while Germany and China ship higher-value specialized goods like plastic boxes ($3.27/unit) and sacks ($1.59–$1.65/unit).

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

Prioritize high-margin specialized products (e.g., boxes, certain bags) and diversify suppliers to mitigate overreliance on South Africa, leveraging high-yield European and Chinese partners for niche demand.

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

South African suppliers benefit from bulk trade dominance, but European and Chinese firms have opportunities to expand in high-value niches. All must monitor Botswana’s tariff policies to maintain competitiveness.

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

Imports serve both bulk commodity needs (e.g., general plastic articles at $0.16–$0.43/unit) and specialized applications like packaging solutions (boxes, sacks) for retail and logistics sectors.