Botswana Portland Cement Import Market -- HS Code 2523 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Portland Cement imports under HS Code 2523 surged 44% to $6.60 million in April 2025, peaking on steady bulk demand and a stable $0.09/kg unit price. The market is dominated by standard gray Portland cement, with South Africa supplying 78.9% of volume, creating heavy geographic reliance. Supplier concentration is extreme, with one group controlling 98% of trade, led by manufacturers like AfriSam, raising supply chain risks. This analysis covers April 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Background

What is HS Code 2523?

HS Code 2523 refers to Portland cement, a hydraulic binding agent widely used in construction for its durability and strength. It is a critical input for infrastructure projects, residential buildings, and industrial facilities, driving consistent global demand. The product's standardized composition ensures its relevance across diverse markets, including Botswana's growing construction sector.

Current Context and Strategic Position

While no specific trade policy updates have been announced, Botswana's reliance on Portland cement imports underscores its vulnerability to global supply chain fluctuations and commodity price volatility. As a landlocked nation with limited domestic production capacity, Botswana's HS Code 2523 trade data reflects its dependence on foreign suppliers to meet infrastructure and housing demands. Monitoring import trends remains essential to anticipate cost pressures and supply disruptions, particularly as regional construction activity accelerates. Strategic sourcing and diversification will be key to stabilizing Botswana's Portland cement supply in 2025.

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's Portland Cement import trend in April 2025 closed at a value of $6.60 million USD, with a unit price holding steady at $0.09 per kg. This represents the peak in a four-month upward trajectory, underscoring robust demand in the early part of the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 2523 value trend demonstrates strong sequential growth, with imports climbing from $4.57 million in January to $6.60 million in April, reflecting a 44% increase over the period. This momentum aligns with seasonal construction cycles in Botswana, where drier conditions typically spur infrastructure activity and inventory builds post-winter. The consistent unit price points to stable global supply dynamics and efficient logistics, likely driven by competitive sourcing strategies amid steady economic conditions.

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import of HS Code 2523 in April 2025 is overwhelmingly dominated by standard gray Portland cement, which accounts for over 95% of the value share. This product, described as cement portland other than white, has a unit price of $0.09 per kg, indicating it is the primary bulk import. A minor anomaly exists with hydraulic cement at a much higher unit price of $0.75 per kg, but it represents less than 0.1% of the volume and is isolated from the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports under HS Code 2523 for Botswana can be grouped into three categories: bulk standard cement, which is the core product; cement clinkers as a semi-finished raw material with a lower unit price of $0.06 per kg; and white Portland cement as a specialized grade with a unit price of $0.09 per kg. This structure shows that trade is primarily in fungible bulk commodities, with some differentiation for higher grades, suggesting prices are likely tied to global bulk indices rather than brand differentiation.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers handling Botswana's HS Code 2523 trade data, the high concentration in bulk standard cement implies limited pricing power and a focus on cost-efficient sourcing due to competitive markets. Strategic efforts should prioritize volume negotiations for bulk imports while exploring niche opportunities in specialized grades like white cement, which may offer better margins but smaller volumes.

Table: Botswana HS Code 2523) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Botswana's Portland Cement imports in April 2025 were heavily concentrated. South Africa was the dominant source, supplying 78.9% of the total import value. This share was slightly higher than its 80.71% weight share, indicating a marginal preference for higher-grade or specialty cement types from this partner. Shipment frequency was also very high, pointing to a steady, established supply chain for this essential construction material.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import profile reveals two clear clusters. South Africa forms a "Volume/Hub Cluster," acting as the primary bulk supplier of cement to meet Botswana's core construction demands. Namibia is a secondary "Volume" source, providing nearly a fifth of the total weight. The minimal activity from Botswana itself likely represents data noise or minor logistical movements rather than a meaningful trade flow, as self-imports for a bulk good like cement are highly unusual.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's cement supply chain is highly dependent on South Africa. This creates a risk if there are any disruptions in transport or production from its southern neighbor. For greater stability, importers could consider developing relationships with other regional producers. There was no specific trade news or policy announced that would alter this supply dynamic during the period.

Table: Botswana Portland Cement (HS 2523) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Portland Cement (HS 2523) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, Botswana's Portland Cement import suppliers in April 2025 show a highly concentrated market. One group of suppliers dominates, handling 98.13% of the total import value and 98.16% of the quantity. This group also accounts for 97.58% of all import transactions, making it the clear leader. The typical trade involves large, regular shipments from a few key players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 2523 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory market. The dominant group includes major manufacturers like AFRISAM SA PTY LTD and WHALE ROCK CEMENT PTY. Other clusters play minor roles. One small group handles occasional high-value deals, while another manages frequent but low-value shipments. A final cluster deals with infrequent, low-value imports. These smaller groups together represent less than 2% of the market value.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's cement import strategy relies heavily on a few large manufacturers. This creates efficiency but also risk. Any disruption with these key suppliers could impact supply. Diversifying sources among the smaller clusters could reduce this vulnerability. The current model works well for stable demand but may struggle with sudden changes. No specific trade news affects this outlook for April 2025.

Table: Botswana Portland Cement (HS 2523) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Portland Cement Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your import sources beyond South Africa using hs code 2523 trade data to identify and qualify secondary suppliers, mitigating the significant supply chain risk from a single dominant partner.
• Leverage the dominant supplier group's transaction frequency data to negotiate long-term volume contracts for bulk standard cement, securing stable pricing and reliable supply for Botswana's Portland Cement Import needs.
• Analyze specialized product grades like white cement within the hs code 2523 trade data to target niche, higher-margin market segments and reduce reliance on the highly competitive bulk commodity trade.
• Develop contingency plans by monitoring the minor supplier clusters for emergency sourcing options, ensuring the Botswana Portland Cement supply chain remains resilient to disruptions with key manufacturers.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Portland Cement Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Portland Cement Import 2025 April?

Botswana's Portland Cement imports surged 44% from January to April 2025, peaking at $6.60 million, driven by seasonal construction demand and stable global supply dynamics. The consistent $0.09/kg unit price reflects competitive bulk sourcing.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Portland Cement (HS Code 2523) 2025 April?

South Africa dominated Botswana’s imports with 78.9% of the value share, followed by Namibia as a secondary volume source. Together, they accounted for nearly all imports, with minimal self-import activity.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Portland Cement Import?

Price differences stem from product grades: bulk standard cement trades at $0.09/kg, while specialized white Portland cement and clinkers have varying prices. South Africa’s marginally higher value share suggests slight premium-grade imports.

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Portland Cement?

Importers should prioritize volume negotiations for bulk standard cement (95% of trade) while exploring niche margins in white cement. Diversifying suppliers beyond the dominant South African cluster could mitigate supply chain risks.

Q5. What does this Botswana Portland Cement import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers like South Africa’s AFRISAM SA PTY LTD benefit from stable, high-volume demand but face pressure to maintain cost efficiency. Niche players could target opportunities in specialized grades, though volumes remain limited.

Q6. How is Portland Cement typically used in this trade flow?

The bulk-standard cement imports primarily support Botswana’s construction sector, meeting core infrastructure needs. Clinkers and white cement cater to specialized applications, reflecting minor but higher-margin demand.