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

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s Telephone Sets Import under HS Code 8517 in May 2025 surged to $11.17M, rebounding from April’s drop, driven by high-volume, lower-unit-price shipments likely tied to tariff adjustments. The market is dominated by high-value networking equipment, with the US supplying 37.87% of import value but just 0.43% of volume, signaling premium product demand. A single supplier group controls 88.4% of trade, creating supply chain risks. This analysis, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, highlights Botswana’s reliance on specialized, high-margin imports amid concentrated sourcing.

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 consumer connectivity, driving steady global demand. Their widespread use across industries ensures consistent trade activity under this classification.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2025) and Botswana's Customs Tariff updates [BURS] highlight ongoing adjustments to trade classifications and duties, impacting global supply chains. For Botswana, telephone sets imports under HS Code 8517 are critical for modernizing infrastructure and meeting consumer demand. The country's reliance on these imports underscores the need for vigilance in tracking hs code 8517 trade data to navigate policy shifts and market dynamics effectively. Botswana's telephone sets import strategy must align with both regional demand and global trade regulations to ensure competitiveness.

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) Price Trend

Key Observations

In May 2025, Botswana's import of telephone sets under HS code 8517 reached a value of 11.17 million USD, with a unit price of 79.51 USD per kilogram. This represents a significant recovery in value from the previous month, driven by a surge in import volume.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Telephone Sets Import trend showed pronounced volatility from January to May 2025, with value peaking at 13.91 million USD in March before dropping sharply to 6.33 million USD in April and rebounding in May. This pattern aligns with updates to Botswana's customs tariff framework, as detailed in the Tariff Notes 2025 released by BURS [BURS], which may have prompted importers to adjust orders amid changing duty structures. The hs code 8517 value trend indicates a strategic shift towards higher-volume, lower-unit-price imports in May, possibly reflecting bulk purchasing or competitive pricing in response to tariff revisions, rather than seasonal demand cycles typical for electronics.

Botswana Telephone Sets Import (HS 8517) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for May 2025, Botswana's import under HS Code 8517 is heavily concentrated in high-value communication apparatus, specifically the sub-code for networking and transmission equipment, which holds over 50% of the import value with a unit price of $376 per piece. This dominance highlights a specialization in advanced, high-margin products rather than basic telephones.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The import structure for HS Code 8517 in Botswana includes three main categories: high-end transmission devices like routers and switches, consumer smartphones with unit prices ranging from $69 to $100, and lower-cost telephone parts and accessories. This mix of finished goods and components indicates a trade in differentiated manufactured products, not bulk commodities, with clear value-add stages from simple parts to complex systems.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers handling Botswana's HS Code 8517 trade, the high unit prices of specialized equipment suggest significant pricing power for suppliers of advanced products. Businesses should prioritize sourcing these high-value items and efficiently managing the supply chain for parts, as shown in HS Code 8517 import data, to maximize margins and competitive advantage.

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 May 2025, the UNITED STATES was the dominant origin for Botswana's import of Telephone Sets, accounting for 37.87% of the total import value. The value share from the US is significantly higher than its quantity share of 0.43%, indicating a focus on high-value, premium products within HS Code 8517. The frequency share of 26.21% suggests frequent shipments, likely supporting just-in-time supply chains or retail distribution.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The origin countries form distinct clusters based on trade profiles. The High-Yield Cluster includes the UNITED STATES, where high value share points to niche demand for advanced telephone systems. The Volume/Hub Cluster consists of CHINA MAINLAND and SOUTH AFRICA, with quantity shares of 36.29% and 24.58% respectively, indicating mass production of lower-cost units. CHINA MAINLAND's nearly equal value and quantity shares suggest it is a key manufacturing hub. The Transactional Cluster, with high frequency shares from SOUTH AFRICA, CHINA MAINLAND, and the US, reflects active, regular trade routes common in electronics sourcing for retail or OEM networks.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy reliance on the US and China for Telephone Sets imports creates supply chain risks, such as disruption from trade tensions or logistics issues. Diversifying sourcing to include secondary partners like SOUTH AFRICA or regional hubs could enhance stability. Monitoring tariff changes, as hinted in general updates from customs authorities, may help anticipate cost shifts, but no direct impact on current partner shares is evident from the news.

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 suppliers market in May 2025 is highly concentrated. A single group of suppliers, responsible for 88.4% of the total import value, dominates trade. This group handles large, frequent shipments, making them the typical trade partner for this product.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 8517 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory market. The dominant companies, including manufacturers like SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP, are end-users of the goods, not intermediaries. Other supplier groups play minor roles, contributing small shares of value through either infrequent large orders or frequent small ones.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's heavy reliance on a few key suppliers creates vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. Strategic focus should include diversifying sources to mitigate this risk. The 2025 tariff updates [BURS] highlight the need to monitor cost impacts from customs changes, reinforcing the importance of a flexible sourcing model.

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 sourcing high-value networking equipment (unit price ~$376) within the Botswana Telephone Sets Import, as the hs code 8517 trade data confirms this category drives over 50% of import value and offers the highest margins.
• Diversify your supplier base beyond the dominant US and Chinese partners to mitigate risk in the Telephone Sets supply chain, reducing vulnerability to single-source disruptions highlighted in the trade data.
• Use shipment frequency data from key origins to optimize inventory planning, aligning stock levels with the just-in-time delivery patterns of your main suppliers to prevent capital tie-up.
• Continuously monitor official customs channels like BURS for tariff updates on hs code 8517, as sudden duty changes can directly impact the landed cost and profitability of your imports.

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 May?

The rebound in import value to $11.17 million in May 2025 follows a sharp April drop, likely due to bulk purchasing or competitive pricing adjustments in response to Botswana’s updated tariff framework.

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

The UNITED STATES (37.87% of import value), CHINA MAINLAND (36.29% quantity share), and SOUTH AFRICA (24.58% quantity share) dominate Botswana’s imports, with the US specializing in high-value products.

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

Price gaps reflect product specialization: the US supplies premium transmission devices ($376/unit), while China and South Africa focus on lower-cost smartphones ($69–$100) and mass-produced parts.

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

Prioritize sourcing high-margin networking equipment from dominant suppliers like SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP while diversifying origins to mitigate reliance on the US and China.

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

Suppliers of advanced US-made equipment hold pricing power, while Chinese and South African manufacturers benefit from volume-driven demand for affordable units.

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

Imports include high-end routers/switches for infrastructure, consumer smartphones, and components, indicating a mix of retail distribution and industrial use.