Botswana Tobacco Products Import Market -- HS Code 2402 Trade Data & Price Trend (May 2025)

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) Key Takeaways

Botswana's Tobacco Products Import under HS code 2402 in May 2025 shows extreme concentration in high-volume, low-cost cigarettes (85.9% of shipments), with South Africa supplying nearly all imports (99.47% value share) and a few dominant distributors controlling 97.82% of trade. The market rebounded sharply to $561.31K after a collapse in April, likely due to U.S. tariff impacts, signaling volatile but adaptive supply chains. This analysis, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database, highlights high geographic and supplier risks, urging diversification for stability.

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) Background

What is HS Code 2402?

HS Code 2402 covers tobacco products, including cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco substitutes. These goods are primarily consumed in the retail and hospitality sectors, with global demand remaining stable due to entrenched consumer habits and limited substitutes. The trade of these products is closely monitored due to regulatory and health considerations.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States increased additional duties on all imports from Botswana to 37% effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift directly impacts Botswana's tobacco products import, a key export sector for the country. Botswana's strategic significance in this trade flow stems from its role as a regional producer, making market vigilance critical amid rising trade barriers. Analyzing hs code 2402 trade data is now essential to assess the full impact of these tariffs on bilateral trade dynamics.

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) Price Trend

Key Observations

In May 2025, Botswana's import value for Tobacco Products under HS code 2402 reached $561.31 thousand USD, with a unit price of $47.07 per kg, marking a significant recovery from the previous month's low.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Tobacco Products Import trend showed pronounced volatility through early 2025, with values peaking in February at $1.04 million USD before declining in March and collapsing to $51.43 thousand USD in April. This sharp drop coincided with the U.S. administration's increase of additional duties on all imports from Botswana to 37% effective April 9, 2025 [Global Trade Alert], which likely disrupted supply chains and caused temporary import constraints. The subsequent rebound in May to $561.31 thousand USD reflects market adaptation, possibly through diversified sourcing or inventory adjustments, while unit price fluctuations from April's high of $77.62 per kg to May's lower level indicate shifts in product grading or cost strategies amid trade policy impacts.

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In May 2025, Botswana's import activities under HS Code 2402 show extreme concentration in a single product type. According to yTrade data, HS code 24022090, which describes cigarettes containing tobacco, dominates with 85.9% of shipment frequency and over 99% of the quantity imported. Its low unit price of $0.09 per unit underscores a specialization in high-volume, low-cost cigarette imports. A minor anomaly is HS code 24029014 for cigars containing tobacco substitutes, with a very high unit price of $144.70 per unit but negligible share, isolated from the main analysis due to its outlier status.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-dominant imports under Botswana's HS Code 2402 break into two clear categories based on quality and form: premium cigars and cheroots (e.g., HS 24021090 at $46.83 per unit) and higher-grade cigarettes (HS 24022010 at $25.45 per unit). This structure indicates a trade in differentiated manufactured goods with distinct price points, rather than fungible bulk commodities, reflecting varied consumer preferences and value-add stages in tobacco products.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Analyzing HS Code 2402 trade data reveals that importers face strong pricing power in the mass-market cigarette segment due to high volume and low costs, but the premium niches offer margin opportunities. Strategic focus for businesses should prioritize efficient sourcing for dominant low-priced items while cautiously exploring high-value products to diversify risk and capture higher returns in Botswana's import market.

Table: Botswana HS Code 2402) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 2402 Breakdown

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

South Africa supplied nearly all of Botswana's Tobacco Products imports in May 2025, holding a 99.47% value share and a 100% quantity share. This near-total dominance shows Botswana's sourcing is heavily concentrated on a single partner. The value share being slightly lower than the quantity share points to South Africa supplying a mix of product grades, including some lower-value bulk items alongside finished goods.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import structure forms two clear clusters. South Africa operates as the sole volume hub, serving as the primary source for bulk shipments. A separate niche cluster consists of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. These three partners collectively account for just 0.53% of the total import value through small, infrequent shipments. This pattern suggests these are likely small-scale purchases of specialized or premium tobacco products not available from the main supplier.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's import strategy for Tobacco Products carries significant supply chain risk due to its extreme reliance on South Africa. Any disruption to cross-border trade, logistics, or production in South Africa would immediately impact the availability of these goods in Botswana. For greater stability, the sourcing strategy should explore developing secondary supply relationships, even for niche products, to reduce this single-point dependency. The recent U.S. tariff increase on imports from Botswana does not directly affect this import analysis.

Table: Botswana Tobacco Products (HS 2402) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Botswana Tobacco Products (HS 2402) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana Tobacco Products Import suppliers in May 2025 show a highly concentrated market. A small group of suppliers handles nearly all the trade, with one cluster accounting for 97.82% of the import value and 91.03% of the transaction frequency. This dominance means that most of the tobacco products entering Botswana come from just a few key players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The other supplier clusters have very low shares in value and frequency, indicating they play minor roles. The dominant suppliers, including VEGGI PLANET RSA and SPAR NORTH RAND, point to an intermediated market for HS code 2402 products. These companies appear to be distributors or retailers, not direct manufacturers, suggesting that imports are channeled through commercial intermediaries rather than factory direct.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in Botswana, this supplier structure creates a high dependence on a few distributors, increasing the risk of supply disruptions. To reduce vulnerability, importers should consider diversifying their supplier base. External trade risks, such as potential economic shifts from global policy changes, could further impact sourcing stability, though current data does not show direct effects on imports.

Table: Botswana Tobacco Products (HS 2402) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Tobacco Products Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify your supplier base beyond South Africa using hs code 2402 trade data to identify alternative partners, reducing vulnerability to cross-border trade disruptions in the Botswana Tobacco Products Import market.
• Analyze unit price and shipment frequency to target premium product niches like cigars, capturing higher margins and diversifying beyond low-cost, high-volume cigarette imports.
• Develop secondary sourcing options for key distributors like VEGGI PLANT RSA to mitigate supply chain risk, ensuring continuity in your Tobacco Products supply chain.
• Monitor trade data for shifts in supplier clusters or import regulations, enabling proactive adjustments to your sourcing strategy and protecting profitability.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Tobacco Products Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Tobacco Products Import 2025 May?

The rebound in May 2025 to $561.31 thousand USD reflects market adaptation after a sharp April drop caused by U.S. tariff hikes, with unit price shifts indicating adjustments in product grading or sourcing strategies.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Tobacco Products (HS Code 2402) 2025 May?

South Africa dominates with 99.47% of import value, while Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the U.S. collectively account for just 0.53% through niche premium shipments.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Tobacco Products Import?

Price gaps stem from product specialization: South Africa supplies bulk low-cost cigarettes ($0.09/unit), while niche partners offer premium cigars (e.g., $144.70/unit under HS 24029014).

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Tobacco Products?

Importers must diversify suppliers beyond the dominant distributors (e.g., VEGGI PLANET RSA) to mitigate supply chain risks, while cautiously exploring high-margin premium products.

Q5. What does this Botswana Tobacco Products import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

South African suppliers hold near-monopoly leverage, but niche producers (e.g., Cuba) have untapped potential for premium products in Botswana’s small but differentiated market.

Q6. How is Tobacco Products typically used in this trade flow?

Imports are primarily high-volume, low-cost cigarettes for mass consumption, with minor volumes of premium cigars and cheroots catering to specialized demand.