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

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Portland Cement imports under HS Code 2523 in October 2025 were dominated by standard-grade portland cement, accounting for over 95% of trade, with South Africa supplying 80% of volumes—highlighting heavy reliance on a single neighbor. The market is highly concentrated, with just one supplier group handling 98% of imports, creating supply chain risks despite stable pricing at $0.09/kg. Imports showed resilience with a rebound to $6.27 million after recent volatility, signaling potential seasonal demand recovery. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for October 2025.

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. This product is essential for infrastructure projects, residential buildings, and industrial facilities, driving consistent global demand. Botswana's reliance on imports under this code reflects its growing construction sector and limited local production capacity.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The U.S. administration recently imposed a 37% additional duty on all imports from Botswana, effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift underscores the need to monitor Botswana's Portland cement import dynamics, particularly as the country sourced P6,658.8 million in total imports in February 2025, with food and beverages leading but construction materials like cement remaining critical (Stats Botswana). Given Botswana's dependence on foreign cement to meet domestic demand, tracking HS Code 2523 trade data is vital for assessing supply chain resilience and cost implications.

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) Price Trend

Key Observations

In October 2025, Botswana's imports of Portland Cement under HS code 2523 reached a value of 6.27 million USD, with a stable unit price of 0.09 USD per kilogram. This represents a modest recovery from the previous month, highlighting resilience in import activity despite recent fluctuations.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Portland Cement Import trend showed volatility throughout 2025, with values peaking at 7.13 million USD in May before declining to a low of 5.90 million USD in September. The October rebound to 6.27 million USD suggests a possible seasonal uptick in construction demand, as cement imports often align with infrastructure project cycles. This pattern in the hs code 2523 value trend may be influenced by domestic economic factors, such as currency stability or inventory adjustments, rather than direct policy shocks, given the absence of recent trade disruptions affecting imports.

Botswana Portland Cement Import (HS 2523) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In October 2025, Botswana's import of HS Code 2523 is overwhelmingly focused on standard portland cement. According to yTrade data, the sub-code for portland cement other than white accounts for over 95% of the import value and weight, with a unit price of $0.09 per kilogram, indicating a highly concentrated market in this commodity-grade product.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports are split into two categories: cement clinkers, which serve as a raw material input with a lower unit price of $0.07 per kilogram, and specialized cements including white and hydraulic varieties, priced slightly higher at $0.13 and $0.09 per kilogram respectively. This structure points to a trade dominated by fungible bulk commodities, with minor niches for differentiated grades.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For players involved in Botswana's HS Code 2523 import, the market's commodity nature suggests limited pricing power and a need for cost-efficient sourcing of standard cement. Strategic focus should prioritize volume deals for bulk purchases, while exploring higher-margin opportunities in specialized cement segments based on HS Code 2523 trade data insights.

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

South Africa is the dominant supplier for Botswana's Portland Cement imports in October 2025, holding over 80% of the market by value, weight, and shipment frequency. The near-identical shares across these metrics for South Africa (80.47% value, 81.69% weight) confirm a straightforward bulk trade flow for this essential construction material. The data also shows a small but notable re-import flow from Botswana itself, which typically represents returned goods or reverse logistics from prior exports.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The supply base forms two clear clusters. The first is a high-volume cluster, consisting solely of South Africa. Its massive weight share confirms its role as the primary source for bulk cement, a pattern driven by geographic proximity and established land logistics for heavy goods. The second is a small-scale cluster containing Namibia and Botswana's own re-imports. Namibia acts as a secondary bulk supplier, while the minimal activity from Botswana itself is not a competitive source but rather a result of goods being returned to the country.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's cement supply chain is highly dependent on South Africa, creating a significant single-point risk for its construction sector. This deep reliance on one neighbor for a bulk commodity leaves imports vulnerable to any transport disruptions, labor strikes, or production issues in South Africa. For greater stability, Botswana must work to diversify its sources of Portland Cement, potentially by developing more local production capacity or fostering relationships with other regional suppliers to mitigate this concentration risk.

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

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Portland Cement (HS 2523) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In October 2025, the Botswana Portland Cement import market is highly concentrated, with a single supplier group handling nearly all trade. According to yTrade data, suppliers with high value and high frequency shipments dominate, accounting for 98.20% of the total import value. This group, which includes major players, represents the typical trade flow with large, regular shipments.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining supplier clusters have minimal presence, with only a small group of low value but high frequency suppliers contributing 1.80% of value. The dominant Botswana Portland Cement import suppliers, such as AFRISAM and SEPHAKU CEMENT, are cement manufacturers, indicating a direct-to-factory commercial persona. The profile of HS code 2523 suppliers points to direct procurement from producers, with no significant intermediary or state-controlled entities involved.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For Botswana importers, the high reliance on a few key suppliers requires focused relationship management to ensure supply stability. This concentration poses a risk of disruption if supplier issues arise, but also offers cost efficiency through bulk purchasing. According to Stats Botswana, imports are a vital part of the economy, reinforcing the need for diversified or backup sourcing plans to mitigate vulnerabilities. (Stats Botswana)

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 and qualify secondary suppliers from other regional hubs; this reduces the single-point risk in the Portland Cement supply chain and ensures construction sector stability.
• Negotiate long-term, volume-based contracts with the dominant high-frequency suppliers to lock in favorable pricing; this leverages the commodity nature of Botswana's Portland Cement import to secure cost efficiency and supply predictability.
• Analyze import records for low-volume, high-value specialized cements to explore niche market opportunities; this allows for higher-margin sales alongside bulk commodity imports, diversifying the product portfolio.
• Develop a contingency logistics plan for land-based transport routes from South Africa; this mitigates vulnerability to disruptions that could halt the entire Portland Cement supply chain for Botswana's construction industry.
• Continuously monitor hs code 2523 trade data for shifts in supplier frequency and shipment size; this provides early warning of potential supply issues or emerging competitive threats, allowing for proactive strategy adjustments.

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 October?

Botswana's Portland Cement imports rebounded to $6.27 million in October 2025 after a September dip, likely due to seasonal construction demand. The market remains dominated by bulk-standard cement (95% share), with stable pricing at $0.09/kg.

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

South Africa supplies over 80% of Botswana’s Portland Cement by value and weight. Namibia and minor re-imports from Botswana itself account for the remainder.

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

Price differences stem from product grade: standard cement trades at $0.09/kg, while specialized white/hydraulic cements cost $0.13/kg. Clinker imports are cheaper at $0.07/kg.

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

Importers must prioritize bulk deals with dominant suppliers like AfriSam and Sephaku Cement while exploring niche high-margin grades. Diversifying sources beyond South Africa is critical to mitigate supply risks.

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

South African suppliers benefit from entrenched bulk trade, but niche producers could target Botswana’s small demand for specialized cements. The market’s reliance on few suppliers creates negotiation leverage for major exporters.

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

Imported cement is primarily commodity-grade for construction and infrastructure, with minimal processing. Clinker imports suggest some local blending, while specialized cements likely serve niche architectural or industrial uses.