Botswana Telephone Sets Import Market -- HS Code 8517 Trade Data & Price Trend (Aug 2025)

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Key Takeaways

Botswana's Telephone Sets import market in August 2025, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, is dominated by low-cost, high-volume communication apparatus under HS Code 8517, with China supplying over half of the higher-grade finished goods. The market shows stabilization after volatile swings triggered by U.S. tariffs earlier in the year. Supplier concentration is extreme, with a handful of high-value firms handling 95% of trade value, creating supply chain risks. Strategic opportunities lie in niche high-value components, where pricing power remains stronger than in the crowded bulk segment. Geographic reliance on China underscores the need for diversification to mitigate disruptions. This HS Code 8517 trade data reveals a market balancing commoditized volume with premium specialization.

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Background

What is HS Code 8517?

HS Code 8517 covers telephone sets and communication equipment, including smartphones. These products are essential for global telecommunications, driven by demand from consumer electronics, enterprise IT, and infrastructure sectors. Their trade remains significant due to the steady need for connectivity upgrades and technological advancements.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States recently imposed a 37% additional duty on all imports from Botswana, effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift underscores the need for vigilance in Botswana's telephone sets import market, particularly under HS Code 8517. Botswana's role in this trade flow is strategic, as it serves as a regional hub for communication equipment distribution. Monitoring hs code 8517 trade data is critical to navigating these tariff changes and assessing their impact on supply chains. Stakeholders must stay informed to adapt to evolving trade dynamics.

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Price Trend

Key Observations

In August 2025, Botswana's imports of telephone sets under HS code 8517 totaled $6.07 million, with a unit price of $94.67 per kilogram. This represents a moderation in both value and price compared to the elevated levels seen in July.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Telephone Sets Import trend showed significant volatility throughout 2025, particularly after the U.S. administration imposed a 37% additional duty on all imports from Botswana effective April 9, 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. Imports peaked in March at $13.91 million but dropped sharply in April to $6.33 million as the tariff took effect, triggering inventory adjustments and possible supply chain shifts. May saw a rebound in volume with lower prices, likely due to rushed shipments ahead of full tariff impact, followed by erratic movements in June and July with high unit prices but thin volumes. The hs code 8517 value trend settled in August, suggesting a new equilibrium as traders adapted to the changed trade environment.

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for August 2025, Botswana's import market for HS Code 8517 is overwhelmingly concentrated in high-volume, low-value communication apparatus. The dominant product is "machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data" (HS Code 85176290), which accounts for nearly three-quarters of all imported units but only a fifth of the total value, resulting in a very low average price of just $6.21 per unit. A single, extreme price anomaly exists for base stations, which were imported at over $26,500 per unit, but this is an isolated, niche component of the trade flow.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The import structure for Botswana's HS Code 8517 trade data reveals three clear product tiers. The bulk of imports are low-cost, high-volume network switching and routing apparatus. A second tier consists of finished smartphones, which command a mid-range price between $78 and $23 per unit. The third, smallest tier comprises high-value components like specialized parts and aerials, priced from $150 to over $190 per unit. This multi-tiered structure, dominated by high-volume generic goods, indicates a market for differentiated manufactured products rather than fungible commodities.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers into Botswana, pricing power is limited in the high-volume, low-margin segment that dominates HS Code 8517 imports. The real opportunity lies in the smaller, high-value niches for components and specialized equipment, where competition is less intense and unit economics are stronger. A strategic focus on these premium segments, rather than the crowded market for basic apparatus, would be more profitable. This structure suggests that suppliers of commoditized goods face significant margin pressure, while those offering specialized, higher-grade products can maintain better pricing.

Table: Botswana HS Code 8517) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 8517 Breakdown

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In August 2025, China Mainland was the dominant supplier for Botswana's imports of Telephone Sets, accounting for 52.18% of the total import value. This high value share, compared to a lower quantity share of 8.59%, indicates that Botswana primarily sources higher-grade or finished telephone sets from China, rather than bulk components. The frequency of shipments from China was 22.11%, showing consistent but not overly frequent trade flows. This pattern suggests a reliance on quality products from a single major origin for Botswana's Telephone Sets import market.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top origins can be grouped into two clusters based on trade data for HS Code 8517. The High-Yield Cluster includes China Mainland, South Africa, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, India, Hungary, and Malaysia, where value shares significantly exceed quantity shares. This points to imports of premium telephone sets, likely finished goods, from these countries. The Transactional Cluster features the United States, with a high frequency share of 33.97% against a value share of 6.15%, indicating frequent, small-scale shipments. This could be driven by retail or e-commerce demand for telephone sets in Botswana, supporting quick replenishment and variety.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy dependence on China for Telephone Sets imports poses supply chain risks, such as disruptions or price volatility. Diversifying sourcing to other high-yield partners like South Africa or Vietnam could enhance stability. The high-frequency imports from the United States suggest an efficient, just-in-time supply chain for certain segments, which may be beneficial for maintaining inventory levels. Monitoring these patterns will help in optimizing Botswana's import strategy for Telephone Sets.

Table: Botswana Telephone Sets (HS 8517) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Telephone Sets (HS 8517) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In August 2025, the Botswana Telephone Sets import market shows high concentration. According to yTrade data, a small group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers handles nearly all the trade value, accounting for 95% of the total. This cluster also represents the typical trade pattern, with frequent shipments and high monetary contribution, indicating that most Botswana Telephone Sets import suppliers are few but critical players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The other supplier groups have minimal roles: low-value, high-frequency suppliers contribute little value despite regular shipments, while low-frequency groups are marginal. The dominant cluster's representative companies, including manufacturers and trading firms, suggest a mixed commercial persona of direct-to-factory and intermediated sourcing. The profile of HS code 8517 suppliers points to a market where large, established entities drive most transactions, with limited diversity from smaller or infrequent players.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For Botswana importers, the strategy should prioritize maintaining relationships with high-value suppliers to ensure supply stability, but this creates vulnerability to disruptions from over-reliance. Diversifying into lower-value clusters could mitigate risks, though their small share offers limited immediate opportunity. [Market Inside Data] provides context on import data that supports this need for a balanced approach to avoid supply chain weaknesses.

Table: Botswana Telephone Sets (HS 8517) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Telephone Sets Supplier lists

Action Plan for Telephone Sets Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify sourcing beyond China to other high-yield partners like South Africa and Vietnam to mitigate supply chain risks and reduce over-reliance on a single origin for Botswana's Telephone Sets Import market.
• Shift focus from high-volume, low-margin communication apparatus to importing higher-value components and specialized equipment under hs code 8517 trade data to improve profit margins and reduce competitive pressure.
• Strengthen relationships with key high-value, high-frequency suppliers to ensure stable supply, while also qualifying new suppliers from lower-frequency clusters to build a more resilient Telephone Sets supply chain.
• Use detailed hs code 8517 trade data to monitor shipment frequency and value patterns, optimizing inventory levels to avoid overstocking low-value items and stockouts of high-demand premium products.
• Analyze buyer behavior and import frequency from transactional partners like the United States to support a just-in-time replenishment strategy, ensuring variety and availability without excessive holding costs.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Telephone Sets Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Telephone Sets Import 2025 August?

The August 2025 import value of $6.07 million reflects a moderation after volatile swings triggered by a 37% U.S. tariff imposed in April, which caused sharp drops and erratic adjustments before stabilizing.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Telephone Sets (HS Code 8517) 2025 August?

China Mainland dominates with 52.18% of import value, followed by South Africa, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates, which form a High-Yield Cluster supplying premium products.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Telephone Sets Import?

Prices vary due to a three-tier import structure: low-cost bulk apparatus ($6.21/unit), mid-range smartphones ($23–$78/unit), and high-value components ($150–$190/unit), with China supplying higher-grade finished goods.

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Telephone Sets?

Importers should prioritize high-value niche components for better margins, diversify sourcing beyond China to mitigate risks, and maintain relationships with dominant high-frequency suppliers for stability.

Q5. What does this Botswana Telephone Sets import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers of commoditized goods face margin pressure, while those offering specialized, high-value equipment have stronger pricing power in Botswana’s concentrated, tiered market.

Q6. How is Telephone Sets typically used in this trade flow?

The imports are primarily for differentiated manufactured products, including network switching/routing apparatus, smartphones, and specialized communication components, rather than fungible commodities.