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

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s telephone sets imports under HS Code 8517 surged in value to $10.15M in February 2025, driven by a shift toward premium devices at $149.79/kg despite lower volume. The market is dominated by specialized high-end telephone sets, with China supplying nearly half the value and South Africa acting as a steady secondary source. Supplier concentration is extreme, with 90% of imports controlled by a handful of distributors, creating supply chain risks. This analysis, covering February 2025, is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

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 telecommunications, business operations, and personal connectivity, driving consistent global demand. Botswana's reliance on imports for these goods underscores their strategic importance in modernizing infrastructure and supporting digital economies.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Botswana's customs authority, BURS, recently updated its tariff documents, including the Customs Tariff Volume I and II July 2025, which may impact import regulations for HS Code 8517 [BURS]. Given Botswana's growing digital economy, Telephone Sets Import remains critical for bridging connectivity gaps. Monitoring hs code 8517 trade data is vital to anticipate policy shifts and ensure supply chain resilience in this high-priority sector.

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's import of telephone sets (HS code 8517) in February 2025 reached 10.15 million USD, with a unit price of $149.79 per kilogram, marking a notable increase in value despite a reduction in volume compared to the previous month.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Telephone Sets Import trend demonstrated a month-over-month value growth from 9.62 million USD in January to 10.15 million USD in February, fueled by a sharp rise in unit price from $106.87 to $149.79 per kilogram. This upward momentum in pricing, coupled with a weight decrease from 90.01 thousand kg to 67.77 thousand kg, points to a strategic shift towards higher-value, possibly advanced technology products, rather than bulk imports. The timing aligns with the release of updated customs tariff information in January [BURS], which may have prompted importers to adjust for cost changes or regulatory compliance, reinforcing the hs code 8517 value trend toward premiumization.

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In February 2025, Botswana's import of HS Code 8517 is heavily concentrated in specialized communication equipment, with telephone sets not elsewhere classified dominating the market. According to yTrade data, this sub-category, described as "Telephone sets n.e.c.," holds a 24.7% value share despite a lower shipment frequency, indicating a focus on higher-unit-price items averaging $522 per piece. No extreme price anomalies were detected in the data set, allowing for a clear analysis of the main import pool.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The import structure under HS Code 8517 for Botswana breaks down into three clear tiers: finished smartphones with unit prices around $100, standard communication apparatus like switching equipment at lower price points, and various parts for maintenance and assembly. This segmentation, evident in HS Code 8517 trade data, shows a market for differentiated manufactured goods rather than bulk commodities, with distinct value-add stages from high-end consumer devices to functional components.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers dealing with Botswana HS Code 8517 imports, pricing power lies with specialized, higher-value items such as niche telephone sets, suggesting a strategic focus on these segments for better margins. Emphasizing partnerships with suppliers of finished goods over bulk parts could optimize import strategies, given the clear value disparities in the market.

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

China is the dominant source for Botswana's telephone sets imports in February 2025, accounting for 48.4% of the total import value. Its value share slightly exceeds its quantity share (44.4%), indicating a minor premium for the finished devices or higher-specification models supplied. South Africa is the second largest partner by value (21.9%) but shows a significant disparity with its extremely high shipment frequency (40.8%), which points to a steady flow of lower-value consignments, likely components or more basic handset models.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The data reveals two primary sourcing clusters for Botswana's telephone sets. The first is a volume/hub cluster, consisting of the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. These partners show high quantity shares (10.3% and 4.4% respectively) relative to their lower frequency, suggesting they act as logistics or redistribution hubs for larger shipments. The second is a high-yield cluster including the United States, Vietnam, Germany, and South Korea. These countries have a much higher value share relative to their minimal quantity share, indicating they supply premium, specialized, or lower-volume, higher-cost devices to the market.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's supply chain for telephone sets is highly concentrated, with over 70% of import value dependent on just two partners: China and South Africa. This creates a significant vulnerability to any supply shock from either origin. A forward strategy should prioritize diversifying sources, particularly by developing relationships with suppliers from the identified high-yield cluster. This would help mitigate risk and provide access to a broader range of product specifications and technologies for the Botswana market.

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

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Botswana Telephone Sets (HS 8517) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana telephone sets import supplier market in February 2025 was highly concentrated. One group of suppliers, responsible for nearly 90% of the total import value, dominated trade. This core group also handled most shipment volume and frequency, making them the typical trade channel for these goods.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 8517 suppliers indicates a distributor-driven market. The dominant companies, like WESTCONGROUP and MICRO-D, are large-scale distributors that ship often and in high value. Other supplier groups play minor roles. One brings in large quantities infrequently, while others are small, occasional shippers with minimal impact on total trade value or volume.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's sourcing for telephone sets relies heavily on a few major distributors. This creates supply chain risk if one key supplier faces disruption. Importers should consider developing relationships with the less frequent but high-volume shippers to diversify sources. The current structure is efficient but leaves little room for error if the main suppliers cannot deliver.

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

• Prioritize importing high-value, specialized telephone sets identified in the hs code 8517 trade data to capture better margins, as these items drive pricing power in Botswana's market.
• Diversify the Telephone Sets supply chain by building relationships with suppliers from high-yield clusters like the U.S. and Vietnam to reduce over-reliance on China and South Africa and mitigate supply disruption risks.
• Use detailed shipment frequency and value data to negotiate volume-based discounts with major distributors, ensuring cost efficiency while maintaining consistent supply for Botswana's Telephone Sets Import needs.
• Develop a dual-sourcing strategy by partnering with both high-frequency distributors for regular stock and low-frequency, high-volume shippers for bulk orders, optimizing inventory and reducing dependency on any single supplier.
• Monitor trade hubs like the UAE and Hong Kong through hs code 8517 trade data to identify logistics advantages and potential cost savings, leveraging their role as redistribution points for larger shipments.

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 February?

Botswana's telephone sets imports saw a 5.5% value increase to $10.15 million in February 2025, driven by a 40% surge in unit prices ($149.79/kg) despite lower volume. This reflects a strategic shift toward premium devices, likely influenced by updated customs tariffs and demand for advanced technology.

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

China dominates with 48.4% of import value, followed by South Africa (21.9%). The UAE and Hong Kong act as logistics hubs, while the US, Vietnam, Germany, and South Korea supply premium, low-volume devices.

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

Prices vary by product tier: China supplies mid-range smartphones (~$100/unit), while the US and South Korea provide high-spec devices. South Africa’s frequent, low-value shipments suggest components or basic models.

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

Prioritize partnerships with major distributors like WESTCONGROUP for efficiency but diversify with high-yield suppliers (e.g., US, Germany) to mitigate over-reliance on China and South Africa.

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

Suppliers of niche or premium devices (e.g., US, South Korea) have untapped potential, while bulk distributors must align with Botswana’s shift toward higher-value goods to maintain relevance.

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

Imports include finished smartphones, communication apparatus (e.g., switching equipment), and maintenance parts, catering to both consumer markets and functional infrastructure needs.