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

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Key Takeaways

Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS Code 3923 in May 2025 show a market dominated by specialized, higher-value plastic boxes, with prices stabilizing after early volatility. Supplier concentration is extreme, with a handful of high-volume firms controlling over 75% of trade, creating significant supply chain risk. South Africa accounts for 85% of shipment frequency, highlighting heavy regional dependence, while re-imports from Botswana signal potential inefficiencies. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for May 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 boxes, bottles, and sacks. 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 widespread use across supply chains.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States recently imposed a 37% additional duty on all imports from Botswana, effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift directly impacts Botswana's plastic packaging imports, a key trade flow for the country's manufacturing and export sectors. Botswana's strategic role in regional supply chains underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring HS Code 3923 trade data, especially amid rising trade barriers. The May 2025 analysis period will be critical for assessing these disruptions.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Price Trend

Key Observations

In May 2025, Botswana's plastic packaging imports reached 3.32 million USD, with a unit price of 2.82 USD per kilogram, marking a recovery in value following earlier volatility.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Plastic packaging Import trend exhibited notable fluctuations in early 2025, with a surge in volume to 1.88 million kg in March driving the unit price down to 1.61 USD/kg, likely due to bulk procurement or market adjustments. This was followed by a rebound in April and May, where imports stabilized with a 17.7% sequential value increase from April to May. The hs code 3923 value trend aligns with potential anticipatory moves ahead of the US administration's 37% duty increase on all imports from Botswana effective April 9, 2025 [Global Trade Alert], which may have influenced stockpiling or sourcing strategies amid broader trade policy shifts.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import of plastic packaging under HS Code 3923 in May 2025 was heavily concentrated on general-purpose plastic boxes and cases. This category, represented by code 39231000, accounted for nearly 23% of the total import value. Its higher average price of $2.32 per kilogram suggests it is a specialized, higher-value segment within the broader packaging import market. Two extreme outliers were present in the data: one type of ethylene polymer bag traded at a very low price of $0.04 per kilogram, while another similar product category had a significantly higher price of $19.70 per kilogram. These anomalies have been isolated from the main analysis due to their atypical pricing.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining import volume for Botswana's HS Code 3923 trade consists of two main product groups. The first group includes various medium-value items like plastic bottles, carboys, stoppers, and other closures, which trade between $0.12 and $1.72 per kilogram. The second group covers basic packaging such as sacks, bags, and similar articles made from different polymers, with prices generally below $1.00 per kilogram. This structure points to an import market for functional, manufactured goods rather than bulk commodities, with pricing driven by product type and specific use rather than raw material indices.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The high concentration in a specific, higher-value product type indicates that suppliers of plastic boxes and cases likely hold stronger pricing power within Botswana's import market for HS Code 3923. Buyers should focus their sourcing strategy on this dominant segment while also exploring the broader range of available mid-tier and basic packaging products to balance cost and supply risk. Analyzing HS Code 3923 trade data shows that market entry or negotiation efforts must account for this clear segmentation between standardized and specialized plastic packaging articles.

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 May 2025, with 85.21% of shipment frequency, 65.59% of quantity, and 61.90% of value. The quantity share slightly exceeds the value share, indicating imports of bulk or standard-grade packaging materials. The high frequency suggests frequent, small-scale shipments, typical for just-in-time supply chains in retail or manufacturing. Botswana itself appears as an origin with a high quantity share of 29.53% but a low value share of 7.72, signaling re-importation of returned goods or reverse logistics, not external competition.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import origins for Plastic packaging form three clusters. South Africa represents a volume and transactional cluster due to its high quantity and frequency shares, driven by geographic proximity and routine supply needs for basic packaging. Germany and China form a high-yield cluster with value shares of 12.35% and 10.95% despite lower volume, indicating demand for premium or specialized packaging products. Botswana's re-import cluster, with disproportionately high quantity share, points to local issues like quality returns or inventory management. Other countries like Portugal and Austria have minimal shares and low commercial impact.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on South Africa for Plastic packaging imports creates supply chain vulnerability, urging diversification to sources like Germany or China for premium options or stability. The significant re-import volume from Botswana highlights potential inefficiencies in export quality or logistics that need addressing to reduce waste and costs. External factors such as the US tariff increase on Botswana exports [Global Trade Alert] may indirectly affect trade flows but do not alter these import patterns directly. Regular analysis of HS Code 3923 trade data can guide sourcing decisions and risk management.

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 Botswana plastic packaging import supplier market in May 2025 was highly concentrated. A core group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers dominated trade, accounting for 75.26% of the total import value. This group also handled 72.17% of the total quantity, making them the typical source for these goods.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 3923 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory market. The dominant suppliers, including manufacturers like KROMBERG & SCHUBERT, are likely shipping directly to industrial end-users. Other clusters play smaller roles: a few high-value, low-frequency suppliers provide significant volumes in fewer shipments, while many low-value suppliers handle minor, irregular orders. This structure points to stable, bulk supply relationships with major producers.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's heavy reliance on a small group of key suppliers creates strategic vulnerability, especially for a manufactured product like plastic packaging. This concentration means any disruption with these primary partners could significantly impact supply chains. This risk is heightened by the new 37% additional US duty on all imports from Botswana [GlobalTradeAlert], which could increase costs and complicate logistics. Diversifying the supplier base is a critical next step to mitigate this exposure.

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 the supplier base by using hs code 3923 trade data to identify and onboard new high-value partners beyond the current concentrated group; this reduces vulnerability to disruptions and stabilizes Botswana's Plastic packaging Import supply chain.
• Focus sourcing strategy on specialized higher-value products like plastic boxes by analyzing product segmentation in hs code 3923 trade data; this leverages pricing power and optimizes cost-efficiency for Botswana's Plastic packaging Import market.
• Reduce re-imports from Botswana by investigating quality control and logistics inefficiencies with hs code 3923 trade data; this minimizes waste and lowers operational costs in the Plastic packaging supply chain.
• Explore alternative geographic sources such as Germany or China for premium or stable supply by reviewing origin patterns in hs code 3923 trade data; this diversifies risk and enhances resilience for Botswana's Plastic packaging Import.

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 May?

Botswana's plastic packaging imports in May 2025 rebounded with a 17.7% sequential value increase, likely due to stockpiling ahead of the US 37% duty hike on Botswana exports. The market also stabilized after March's price drop from bulk procurement.

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

South Africa dominated with 85.21% of shipment frequency and 61.90% of value, followed by Germany (12.35% value) and China (10.95% value), which supplied premium products.

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

Prices vary due to product specialization: South Africa supplies bulk-standard items, while Germany and China provide higher-value goods like specialized plastic boxes ($2.32/kg vs. sub-$1.00/kg basic bags).

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

Importers should prioritize diversifying suppliers beyond South Africa to mitigate supply chain risks and explore premium options from Germany/China while balancing cost with the dominant high-value plastic boxes segment.

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

Suppliers in South Africa benefit from stable bulk demand, while German/Chinese exporters can leverage Botswana’s need for specialized packaging. Re-imports (29.53% quantity share) indicate potential quality/logistics issues to address.

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

Imports are functional manufactured goods, primarily for industrial use (e.g., plastic boxes, bottles, and bags), with pricing driven by product type rather than raw material costs.