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

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Key Takeaways

Botswana's Portland Cement import market in July 2025 was dominated by standardized bulk gray cement (HS Code 2523), with 94% of trade volume priced at $0.09/kg, reflecting commodity-driven pricing. Imports rebounded to $7.11 million, continuing a growth trend despite a minor June dip, signaling steady construction demand. The market is highly concentrated, with 98.6% of value controlled by a few manufacturers like Ohorongo Cement, creating supply chain vulnerability. South Africa supplied 78.8% of imports, highlighting heavy regional dependence. This analysis, covering July 2025, 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 binder used primarily in construction for concrete, mortar, and infrastructure projects. Its global demand remains stable due to urbanization and infrastructure development, particularly in emerging economies. Botswana's reliance on imports for this critical material underscores its importance in sustaining domestic construction activity.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Recent data from [The Observatory of Economic Complexity] highlights Botswana's varying import tariffs on cement, reflecting strategic trade policies to balance cost and supply stability. As a landlocked nation with limited local production, Botswana's Portland Cement Import market is highly sensitive to regional trade dynamics and global price fluctuations. Monitoring hs code 2523 trade data is essential to anticipate supply chain risks and inform procurement strategies for key industries like housing and public works. Vigilance in tracking these trends ensures Botswana can mitigate disruptions in this critical sector.

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Price Trend

Key Observations

In July 2025, Botswana's Portland Cement imports under HS code 2523 reached $7.11 million USD at a consistent unit price of $0.09 per kilogram, marking a recovery from the previous month's dip and continuing the overall growth trend observed since the start of the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Portland Cement Import trend demonstrated strong sequential growth from January to May 2025, with imports rising steadily before a slight contraction in June. July's rebound to $7.11 million, up from June's $6.67 million, reflects resilience in construction demand, likely driven by seasonal infrastructure projects and inventory builds. The stable unit price throughout this period, despite import tariffs detailed by [The Observatory of Economic Complexity] from 2023, indicates that cost structures have remained controlled, possibly due to efficient supply chain management or competitive sourcing. This hs code 2523 value trend underscores a robust import pipeline supporting Botswana's building sector.

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 July 2025 is heavily concentrated in standard gray Portland cement, specifically the sub-code for "Cement; portland, other than white, whether or not artificially coloured", which accounts for over 94% of the weight and value. This product has a unit price of $0.09 per kilogram, indicating a bulk commodity trade. A minor anomaly is present with a specialized hydraulic cement type priced at $1.71 per kilogram, 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 can be grouped into two categories: bulk standard cement (including both gray and white varieties, with white cement at $0.10 per kilogram) and cement clinkers as a raw material input at $0.07 per kilogram. This structure shows a trade primarily in fungible bulk commodities, with minimal differentiation beyond basic grade variations, suggesting that prices are likely tied to global indices rather than brand or high-value features.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For players in Botswana's HS Code 2523 import market, the dominance of standardized bulk cement implies low pricing power for buyers, as they are dealing with homogeneous products influenced by external supply and demand factors. Strategic focus should remain on cost-efficient sourcing and logistics for the main gray cement category, while the niche white cement and clinker segments offer limited but potential diversification opportunities within HS Code 2523 trade data.

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

Check Detailed HS Code 2523 Breakdown

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In July 2025, Botswana's Portland Cement imports were heavily concentrated, with South Africa as the dominant source, accounting for 78.83% of import value and 79.95% of weight. The slightly lower value share compared to weight suggests trade in bulk, lower-grade cement variants. Namibia contributed the remaining share, with value at 21.17% and weight at 20.05%, indicating a secondary but consistent supply role.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Both South Africa and Namibia form a volume-driven cluster, characterized by high weight and value shares aligned with frequency, due to geographic proximity enabling cost-effective bulk transportation for heavy goods like cement. This pattern reflects efficient logistics for standard cement supply, with no significant fragmentation or premium pricing observed in the trade data for HS Code 2523.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's high dependency on South Africa for Portland Cement imports highlights supply chain vulnerability. Diversifying sourcing to include more regional or global partners could reduce risks from potential disruptions. Analyzing HS Code 2523 trade data suggests exploring alternative suppliers to enhance resilience without immediate cost increases.

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

In July 2025, the Botswana Portland Cement import market is heavily dominated by a small group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers. According to yTrade data, this cluster holds 98.58% of the import value, indicating that almost all trade comes from a few key players. The typical trade involves large shipments, with total imports valued at approximately 7.01 million for the period.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The dominant suppliers, such as Ohorongo Cement and Sephaku Cement, are manufacturers, pointing to a direct-to-factory sourcing model for HS code 2523. The minor cluster with low-value but high-frequency activity includes companies like Dangote Cement SA, but their impact is minimal with only 1.42% value share. This structure shows that the market relies on established producers rather than intermediaries.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's heavy reliance on a few manufacturers for cement imports creates vulnerability to supply disruptions or price changes. Strategic focus should be on diversifying sources or building stronger relationships with key suppliers. The import tariff environment, as noted in [The Observatory of Economic Complexity], could affect costs, so staying informed on trade policies is essential for risk management.

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

Check Full Portland Cement Supplier lists

Action Plan for Portland Cement Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify sourcing beyond South Africa using hs code 2523 trade data to identify new regional suppliers, reducing vulnerability in Botswana’s Portland Cement import supply chain from single-source dependency.
• Negotiate long-term contracts with dominant manufacturers like Ohorongo Cement to lock in stable pricing for bulk standard cement, leveraging volume to mitigate price volatility driven by global indices.
• Monitor and analyze trade policy changes and tariff shifts affecting hs code 2523 to anticipate cost impacts and adjust procurement strategy, protecting margin in a low-differentiation market.
• Develop a dual sourcing strategy for niche products like white cement, using hs code 2523 trade data to identify high-value, low-volume opportunities without disrupting core bulk supply logistics.

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 July?

Botswana's Portland Cement imports rebounded to $7.11 million in July 2025 after a June dip, reflecting resilient construction demand. Stable unit prices ($0.09/kg) suggest efficient supply chain management despite import tariffs.

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

South Africa dominates with 78.83% of import value, followed by Namibia at 21.17%. Both supply bulk standard cement, leveraging geographic proximity for cost-effective logistics.

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

Price differences stem from product grades: bulk gray cement trades at $0.09/kg, while niche white cement costs $0.10/kg. A rare hydraulic variant ($1.71/kg) has negligible volume impact.

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

Importers should prioritize cost-efficient sourcing of bulk gray cement (94% of volume) and strengthen ties with dominant manufacturers like Ohorongo Cement to mitigate supply risks.

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

Suppliers in South Africa and Namibia benefit from stable, high-volume demand but face pressure to maintain competitive pricing due to the commodity nature of the trade.

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

Imported cement primarily supports Botswana’s construction sector, with standard gray Portland cement used for infrastructure and building projects due to its bulk affordability.