Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import Market -- HS Code 2202 Trade Data & Price Trend (Aug 2025)

Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import (HS 2202) Key Takeaways

Botswana's sweetened beverages import under HS Code 2202 in August 2025 shows a market dominated by flavored and sweetened waters, with clear grade differentiation between economy and standard products. The trade is highly concentrated, with South Africa supplying nearly two-thirds of the value and 96.85% of shipments, creating supply chain vulnerability. A core group of high-value suppliers like Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa handles over 90% of import value, reinforcing reliance on a few key players. After a volatile year, imports rebounded in August to $6.14 million, signaling seasonal recovery ahead of warmer months. Strategic opportunities lie in premium categories and diversifying sourcing to mitigate risks. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for August 2025.

Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import (HS 2202) Background

What is HS Code 2202?

HS Code 2202 covers waters, sweetened beverages, including carbonated and non-carbonated drinks with added sugars or sweeteners. This category is widely consumed globally, driven by demand from retail, hospitality, and food service industries. Its stable market significance stems from consistent consumer preferences and broad accessibility.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Botswana's Sweetened Beverages Import market is influenced by regional trade agreements, such as the MERCOSUR tariff rate quotas for specified goods, as outlined in the BURS tariff notes for 2025. These policies shape import dynamics, making HS Code 2202 trade data critical for monitoring compliance and competitiveness. Botswana's reliance on imports for sweetened beverages underscores the need for market vigilance, particularly in tracking tariff adjustments and supply chain shifts. Strategic analysis of this trade flow ensures informed decision-making for stakeholders.

Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import (HS 2202) Price Trend

Key Observations

In August 2025, Botswana's Sweetened Beverages imports under hs code 2202 reached a value of $6.14 million, with a unit price of $0.62 per kg, reflecting a modest recovery from July's lows.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The hs code 2202 value trend exhibited significant volatility through 2025, starting with strong performance in January and February before a sharp drop in March. The sequential rise from July to August in both value and volume indicates a rebound, likely driven by seasonal inventory adjustments ahead of warmer months in the Southern Hemisphere. This volatility aligns with the introduction of tariff rate quotas for MERCOSUR imports, as detailed by [BURS], which may have influenced sourcing costs and import timing throughout the year (BURS).

Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import (HS 2202) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for August 2025, Botswana's import of sweetened beverages under HS Code 2202 is heavily concentrated in flavored and sweetened waters, specifically the sub-code for "Waters; including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured". This product accounts for over half of the total quantity imported and nearly half of the value, with a unit price of 0.59 USD per unit. The high volume and moderate price point indicate a dominant, mass-market specialization. Notably, non-alcoholic beer imports are isolated as premium anomalies due to their significantly higher unit prices, ranging from 3.60 to 5.46 USD per unit, which are excluded from the main analysis pool.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous imports can be grouped into two main categories based on unit price and product description: economy-grade beverages with lower unit prices around 0.37 USD per unit, and standard flavored waters with prices between 0.59 and 1.06 USD per unit. This structure shows a clear grade differentiation, suggesting that trade is not purely fungible like bulk commodities but involves some product variation, leaning towards differentiated manufactured goods with value tied to flavorings and branding rather than raw material indices.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers, pricing power is limited in the high-volume, lower-priced segments due to competition, but opportunities exist in premium categories for higher margins. Strategic focus should be on efficient sourcing for bulk items and targeted marketing for differentiated products to capture niche demand. Analysis of HS Code 2202 trade data underscores the importance of understanding grade variations in Botswana's import market.

Table: Botswana HS Code 2202) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 2202 Breakdown

Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import (HS 2202) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa supplied nearly two-thirds (64.73%) of Botswana's Sweetened Beverages import value in August 2025. Its 55.26% share of the total quantity was lower than its value share, showing a clear preference for higher-priced, premium products. South Africa also handled the vast majority (96.85%) of all import shipments, confirming its role as the primary and routine supplier for this market.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The data reveals two distinct sourcing clusters beyond South Africa. Botswana itself appears as a major volume source with a 44.45% quantity share but a lower 33.84% value share, indicating significant trade in lower-cost or bulk beverages, likely due to re-imports or cross-border logistics. A second cluster includes all other nations, such as South Korea, the United States, and China. These partners have minimal volume and value shares but account for most of the remaining shipment frequency. This pattern points to small, frequent shipments of niche or specialized products that complement the core supply from South Africa.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's Sweetened Beverages supply chain is highly concentrated on South Africa, creating a potential vulnerability to any disruptions from its southern neighbor. A key strategy would be to diversify sourcing to include other regional producers to mitigate this risk. A tariff note from the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) details quotas for goods from MERCOSUR states [BURS], which could present a future opportunity to explore new supply routes from South America and reduce dependency on a single dominant partner.

Table: Botswana Sweetened Beverages (HS 2202) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Sweetened Beverages (HS 2202) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In August 2025, the Botswana Sweetened Beverages import suppliers market shows strong concentration. According to yTrade data, a core group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers handles 90.52% of the import value, with 85.55% of shipments. The typical trade involves large, regular deliveries from major players like Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and Woolworths, defining the import flow.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

Other supplier groups include high-value, low-frequency importers such as TBS Trading and Red Bull South Africa, which add significant value but ship less often. The dominant high-value, high-frequency cluster consists of direct manufacturers and retailers, pointing to a direct-to-factory model for HS code 2202 suppliers. Low-value clusters have minimal impact, with small, infrequent shipments from companies like Mashatu Investments and CJ Distribution.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana importers should prioritize relationships with dominant suppliers to secure steady supply, but this reliance increases vulnerability to disruptions. Diversifying sources could mitigate risks, especially with potential tariff changes noted in the BURS report [BURS], which may affect costs and sourcing from regions like MERCOSUR.

Table: Botswana Sweetened Beverages (HS 2202) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Sweetened Beverages Supplier lists

Action Plan for Sweetened Beverages Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify sourcing beyond South Africa by exploring MERCOSUR suppliers under Botswana's tariff quotas to reduce dependency and mitigate supply chain disruption risks for the Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import market.
• Segment product offerings using hs code 2202 trade data to target both economy and premium beverage categories, capturing higher margins in niche markets while maintaining volume in mass-market segments.
• Strengthen relationships with high-value, high-frequency suppliers like Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa to ensure stable supply and negotiate better terms, securing the core of the Sweetened Beverages supply chain.
• Use detailed hs code 2202 trade data to optimize inventory and shipping schedules, aligning with supplier shipment frequencies to prevent overstock and reduce logistics costs.
• Monitor BURS tariff updates and global trade policies regularly to anticipate cost changes and adjust sourcing strategies quickly, maintaining competitiveness in Botswana's Sweetened Beverages Import operations.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import 2025 August?

The rebound in August 2025 follows a volatile year, with value and volume recovering from July lows due to seasonal inventory adjustments ahead of warmer months. This aligns with tariff changes affecting sourcing costs.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Sweetened Beverages (HS Code 2202) 2025 August?

South Africa dominates with 64.73% of import value and 96.85% of shipments, while Botswana itself accounts for 44.45% of quantity but lower value (33.84%), likely due to re-imports or bulk trade.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Sweetened Beverages Import?

Price differences stem from product grade variations: South Africa supplies premium beverages (higher unit prices), while Botswana’s share reflects lower-cost bulk items. Niche imports from other countries also skew pricing.

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Sweetened Beverages?

Prioritize relationships with dominant high-value suppliers like Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa for steady supply, but diversify sourcing to mitigate over-reliance on South Africa and potential tariff disruptions.

Q5. What does this Botswana Sweetened Beverages import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

South African suppliers hold a near-monopoly, but niche producers (e.g., from South Korea or the U.S.) can exploit gaps in specialized or premium products, given Botswana’s limited diversification.

Q6. How is Sweetened Beverages typically used in this trade flow?

The imports are primarily mass-market flavored and sweetened waters, with a smaller premium segment (e.g., non-alcoholic beer). Trade leans toward differentiated goods tied to branding rather than bulk commodities.