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

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Key Takeaways

Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS code 3923 in September 2025 stabilized at 3.07 million USD, with rigid packaging like boxes commanding higher unit prices (2.25 USD) while flexible items faced tighter margins. The market is dominated by a few high-volume suppliers handling 88.88% of import value, creating supply chain vulnerabilities, while South Africa supplies 80.73% of volume, highlighting geographic dependency. This analysis, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, reveals a market where product differentiation and supplier concentration define Botswana's trade dynamics.

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 other packaging solutions. This product category is essential for industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and logistics, where durable and lightweight packaging is critical. Global demand remains stable due to its widespread use across multiple sectors.

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 to monitor Botswana's plastic packaging imports, as higher tariffs could disrupt trade flows. Botswana's role in this market is strategic, given its potential to supply cost-effective packaging solutions. Tracking HS Code 3923 trade data is now vital to assess the impact of these changes and identify emerging opportunities. Market vigilance is essential to navigate this evolving landscape.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) Price Trend

Key Observations

In September 2025, Botswana's plastic packaging imports under HS code 3923 totaled 3.07 million USD at a unit price of 2.72 USD per kg, marking a stabilization after the elevated volumes and price volatility seen in August.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Plastic packaging Import trend showed pronounced fluctuations in 2025, with unit prices ranging from 1.61 USD/kg in March to 3.78 USD/kg in February. The August spike to 4.13 million USD and 2.47 million kg likely stemmed from pre-seasonal inventory builds or supply chain adjustments, while September's decline to 1.13 million kg indicates a market recalibration. This hs code 3923 value trend reflects adaptive responses to external pressures, such as the US duty hike on Botswana exports [GlobalTradeAlert], which may have increased import costs and spurred strategic purchasing cycles. Industrial demand for packaging remains steady, supporting resilience amid these shifts.

Botswana Plastic Packaging Import (HS 3923) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In September 2025, Botswana's import activities under HS Code 3923 were dominated by plastic boxes and cases, which accounted for the largest value share with a unit price of 2.25 USD per unit, indicating a specialization in durable, higher-value packaging, according to yTrade data. A notable anomaly was plastic spools and supports, which had an extremely high unit price of 70.60 USD per unit but minimal quantity, making it an outlier isolated from the primary market analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports fall into two clear categories: rigid packaging items like bottles and carboys with unit prices ranging from 0.06 to 0.12 USD per unit, and flexible packaging such as sacks and bags with unit prices as low as 0.04 USD per unit. This split reflects a market for differentiated manufactured goods, where product form and function drive value, rather than a trade in uniform bulk commodities.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For businesses involved in Botswana's HS Code 3923 import market, the product differentiation means that pricing power is stronger for rigid packaging like boxes, while flexible packaging faces tighter margins due to lower unit prices. Strategic efforts should focus on sourcing or supplying higher-value items to improve profitability, leveraging insights from HS Code 3923 trade data to target areas with less price pressure.

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

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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 September 2025, with an 80.73% share in quantity and 64.16% in value. The higher quantity share compared to value indicates imports are focused on bulk or lower-end variants of plastic packaging, rather than premium products. The high frequency share of 80.50% suggests frequent, small-ticket shipments, likely supporting retail or regular supply chain operations for HS Code 3923 goods.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The origins cluster into two groups based on trade data for Botswana's Plastic packaging. SOUTH AFRICA forms a Volume and Transactional Cluster due to its high quantity and frequency shares, driven by geographic proximity and efficient logistics for bulk shipments. Other countries like GERMANY, CHINA MAINLAND, and PORTUGAL comprise a High-Yield Cluster, with value shares exceeding quantity shares, indicating imports of higher-value or specialized plastic packaging. Additionally, BOTSWANA's presence with an 8.39% quantity share but low value points to re-imports, such as returned goods or inventory adjustments common in manufacturing supply chains.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on SOUTH AFRICA for Plastic packaging imports creates supply chain vulnerability; diversifying sources could reduce dependency and enhance stability. The high shipment frequency supports just-in-time logistics but requires monitoring of trade relations. Relevant news, such as tariff notes from BURS [BURS] on MERCOSUR agreements, may inform future strategies, though current data shows no impact on top partners. Focusing on HS Code 3923 trade data can help optimize sourcing for Botswana's import needs.

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 September 2025, the market for plastic packaging imports to Botswana is dominated by a small group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers. According to yTrade data, these suppliers handle 88.88% of the import value and 72.90% of the shipment frequency, indicating that most trade involves regular, large-volume transactions. This structure points to a typical trade pattern where Botswana's plastic packaging import suppliers rely heavily on consistent, high-capacity partners.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining supplier groups include high-value but infrequent partners, low-value high-frequency ones, and a minor low-value low-frequency segment. The dominant high-value high-frequency cluster, represented by companies like MPACT OPERATIONS PTY LTD and RCD PACKAGING, suggests a direct-to-factory sourcing model, as these names imply manufacturing or packaging operations rather than intermediaries. The profile of HS code 3923 suppliers thus leans towards direct industrial relationships, with other clusters serving niche or supplemental roles.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in Botswana, the heavy reliance on a few high-volume suppliers creates vulnerability to supply disruptions or price shifts. Strategic focus should include diversifying sources, particularly by engaging more with the high-value low-frequency cluster for backup options. While the news of US tariff increases on imports from Botswana [Global Trade Alert] may not directly affect plastic packaging imports, it underscores broader trade risks that could indirectly strain logistics or costs, reinforcing the need for a resilient sourcing model.

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

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Action Plan for Plastic Packaging Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your supplier base beyond the dominant high-volume partners by leveraging hs code 3923 trade data to identify and engage high-value, low-frequency suppliers from the High-Yield Cluster (e.g., GERMANY), reducing vulnerability to supply disruptions in Botswana's Plastic packaging Import market.
• Prioritize sourcing rigid packaging items like boxes and cases, which show higher unit prices in hs code 3923 trade data, to improve profit margins and shift focus away from low-value flexible packaging in your Plastic packaging supply chain.
• Use shipment frequency data from Botswana Plastic packaging Import records to optimize inventory planning, aligning stock levels with the high-frequency delivery patterns from SOUTH AFRICA to prevent overstock and support just-in-time logistics.
• Develop contingency plans for your Plastic packaging supply chain by monitoring trade policy alerts (e.g., tariff changes) and hs code 3923 trade data trends, enabling quick pivots to alternative origins if geopolitical risks impact primary routes.
• Build direct relationships with industrial suppliers like those in the dominant cluster (e.g., MPACT OPERATIONS PTY LTD) to secure better pricing and reliable volume, strengthening your position within Botswana's Plastic packaging Import ecosystem.

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 September?

Botswana's plastic packaging imports stabilized in September 2025 after August's spike, with unit prices averaging 2.72 USD/kg. The fluctuations reflect adaptive responses to external pressures like US tariff hikes and pre-seasonal inventory adjustments.

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

South Africa dominates with 80.73% of quantity and 64.16% of value, followed by minor contributions from Germany, China, and Portugal, which focus on higher-value variants.

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/low-end items (e.g., sacks at 0.04 USD/unit), while Germany and others export rigid packaging like boxes (2.25 USD/unit) or niche spools (70.60 USD/unit).

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

Importers should diversify suppliers beyond South Africa to mitigate supply risks and prioritize higher-value rigid packaging (e.g., boxes) over flexible options to improve margins.

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

Suppliers from high-yield clusters (e.g., Germany) have opportunities to expand premium product exports, while South African suppliers benefit from consistent bulk demand but face price sensitivity.

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

Imports under HS Code 3923 serve industrial and retail needs, with rigid packaging (bottles, boxes) for durable goods and flexible variants (sacks) for bulk commodities.