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

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Key Takeaways

Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS Code 3923 in October 2025 reveal a market focused on high-value specialized items like boxes and closures, with unit prices ranging from $0.05 to $125.70. Import values surged 26% month-over-month, signaling resilient demand despite global volatility. The market is highly concentrated, with 82.5% of import value controlled by a few dominant suppliers like Woolworths and Shoprite, creating supply chain risks. South Africa supplies 57% of imports by value, but premium products come from Germany and China. This analysis, based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database, highlights Botswana's reliance on bulk regional sourcing while needing diversification for quality and risk mitigation.

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 includes a wide range of plastic packaging solutions used across industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. Global demand remains stable due to its versatility, lightweight properties, 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 market, particularly for HS Code 3923 trade data. Botswana's strategic role in regional trade and its reliance on plastic packaging for exports highlight the importance of monitoring tariff impacts and supply chain adjustments. Stakeholders must assess how these changes affect competitiveness and sourcing strategies.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Price Trend

Key Observations

In October 2025, Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS code 3923 reached 3.87 million USD at a unit price of 2.98 USD per kilogram, representing a sharp recovery from September's levels and highlighting sustained demand in this sector.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 3923 value trend exhibited significant volatility throughout 2025, with October's 26% month-over-month value increase reversing a brief September dip, indicating resilient import momentum amid fluctuating global plastic markets. This rebound aligns with typical seasonal stock-building cycles in packaging, often driven by heightened manufacturing and retail activity ahead of holiday periods. While the Botswana Plastic Packaging Import trend faced potential indirect pressure from broader trade policy shifts, such as the U.S. duty hike on Botswana exports effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert], import volumes remained robust, suggesting adaptive supply chain strategies and steady domestic demand for plastic packaging solutions.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In October 2025, Botswana's import activities under HS Code 3923 are heavily concentrated on plastic boxes and cases, which account for nearly a quarter of the total import value. According to yTrade data, this sub-category, specifically for boxes and similar articles, shows a unit price of 2.35 USD per unit, significantly higher than many other packaging types, indicating a focus on higher-value, specialized items. An outlier exists with plastic spools and supports, which have an extremely high unit price of 125.70 USD per unit, but this is isolated from the main analysis due to its anomalous nature.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports can be grouped into three main categories: rigid packaging like bottles and carboys, flexible packaging such as sacks and bags, and closures including stoppers and lids. Unit prices vary widely, from as low as 0.05 USD per unit for some sacks to 1.94 USD per unit for certain bottles, reflecting a diverse range of value-add stages and quality grades. This structure points to a market for differentiated manufactured goods rather than uniform commodities, with imports tailored to specific industrial or consumer needs.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Analyzing HS Code 3923 trade data reveals that importers likely have stronger pricing power in specialized segments like boxes and closures, where unit prices are higher. For market players in Botswana, the strategic focus should be on sourcing or developing high-value items to maximize returns, while being mindful of competitive pressures in volume-driven categories like sacks and bags. This insight into HS Code 3923 import patterns can guide inventory and procurement strategies effectively.

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

In October 2025, South Africa dominated Botswana's plastic packaging imports, with a 56.93% value share and a higher 69.81% quantity share. This gap suggests that shipments from South Africa are primarily bulk or lower-grade variants, common for cost-sensitive supply chains. The high frequency of 78.88% indicates frequent, small-lot deliveries, typical for retail or just-in-time logistics. Additionally, imports from Botswana itself show a 22.40% quantity share but only a 4.22% value share, pointing to significant re-importation, likely due to returned goods or inventory adjustments from export activities.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import origins split into two clusters based on share profiles. The volume cluster includes South Africa and re-imports from Botswana, driven by regional proximity and economies of scale for bulk plastic packaging. The high-yield cluster comprises Germany, China Mainland, and European nations like Portugal and Italy, where value shares exceed quantity shares—for example, Germany has a 16.97% value share versus a 3.61% quantity share. This indicates demand for premium or specialized plastic packaging, possibly for high-end consumer goods or technical applications, reflecting Botswana's need for quality variants beyond bulk supply.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on South Africa for plastic packaging imports creates supply chain vulnerability to disruptions. Diversifying sources toward high-yield partners like Germany or China could mitigate risk and improve product quality. Addressing the re-imports from Botswana may require better quality control or logistics management to reduce unnecessary reverse flows. Analyzing HS Code 3923 trade data highlights opportunities to balance cost efficiency with premium sourcing for sustainable import strategies.

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 October 2025 was highly concentrated. A small group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers dominated trade, accounting for 82.47% of the total import value. This group also handled 66.37% of all shipments. The typical trade involved large, regular shipments, with this cluster moving 5.85 million units worth $2.04 million.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 3923 suppliers indicates a market driven by major retail distributors. The dominant cluster includes companies like WOOLWORTHS and SHOPRITE CHECKERS PTY LTD, pointing to an intermediated supply chain where imports flow directly to large-scale end-users. Other clusters play minor roles. A small set of low-frequency, high-volume suppliers contributed 14.31% of value, while numerous smaller, frequent suppliers and occasional importers together accounted for less than 4% of the total import value.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's heavy reliance on a few major suppliers creates vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. Importers should diversify their supplier base to mitigate concentration risk. This is particularly urgent given the increased trade barriers targeting Botswana. The [United States administration] raised additional duties on all imports from Botswana to 37% in April 2025. This policy shift makes strategic supplier diversification and cost management essential for importers.

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 beyond South Africa by targeting high-yield partners like Germany or China, using hs code 3923 trade data to identify premium suppliers; this reduces vulnerability to regional disruptions and tariffs while improving product quality.
• Shift sourcing focus toward high-value items like plastic boxes and closures, as Botswana Plastic Packaging Import data shows these segments command higher unit prices; this maximizes returns and leverages importer pricing power in specialized niches.
• Monitor and rationalize shipments from South Africa by analyzing frequency and volume patterns in hs code 3923 trade data; this helps manage costs and avoid over-reliance on bulk, lower-margin variants common in just-in-time retail logistics.
• Investigate and address re-imports from Botswana by reviewing quality control and logistics workflows; reducing reverse flows cuts unnecessary costs and optimizes the Plastic Packaging supply chain efficiency.
• Develop local or alternative sourcing strategies for critical packaging components to counter trade barriers and supplier concentration risks highlighted in Botswana Plastic Packaging Import trends; this ensures long-term supply security and cost stability.

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 October?

Botswana's plastic packaging imports surged 26% month-over-month in October 2025, rebounding from a September dip, driven by seasonal demand and resilient industrial activity. The recovery highlights steady domestic demand despite global trade volatility, including U.S. duty hikes on Botswana exports.

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

South Africa dominated with 56.93% of import value, followed by Germany (16.97%) and re-imports from Botswana (4.22%). South Africa also accounted for 69.81% of shipment volumes, reflecting bulk supply chains.

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

Price gaps stem from product specialization: high-value items like plastic boxes (2.35 USD/unit) and closures contrast with low-cost bulk items like sacks (0.05 USD/unit). Germany and Europe supply premium variants, while South Africa focuses on economical options.

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

Importers should diversify suppliers to mitigate reliance on South Africa (56.93% share) and prioritize high-value segments like boxes, where pricing power is stronger. Addressing re-imports from Botswana (22.40% volume share) could reduce inefficiencies.

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

Suppliers from Germany and China have opportunities to expand premium product exports, given Botswana’s demand for specialized packaging. South African suppliers retain dominance in bulk shipments but face competition in value-added niches.

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

Imports serve industrial and retail needs, including rigid packaging (bottles), flexible solutions (sacks), and closures (lids). High-value boxes (25% share) cater to specialized applications, while bulk items support cost-sensitive supply chains.