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

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) Key Takeaways

Botswana's Tobacco Products import under HS code 2402 in September 2025 is dominated by low-cost cigarettes (97% of value), reflecting a high-volume, commoditized market. Imports declined to $553K, signaling stabilization after volatile mid-year swings. The supply chain is highly concentrated, with South Africa sourcing 99.7% of volume and a handful of manufacturers controlling 99.3% of trade value—creating significant dependency risks. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for the 2025 September period.

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 driven by habitual consumption patterns despite health regulations. Botswana's tobacco products import under this code reflects both domestic consumption and potential re-export opportunities.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The United States recently increased additional duties on all imports from Botswana to 37%, effective April 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This policy shift could indirectly impact Botswana's tobacco products import by altering trade dynamics or redirecting flows to other markets. Botswana's strategic significance lies in its role as a regional trade hub, making HS Code 2402 trade data critical for monitoring shifts in supply chains. Vigilance is essential to assess how tariff changes may influence import volumes or pricing.

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) Price Trend

Key Observations

In September 2025, Botswana's imports of tobacco products under HS code 2402 declined to a total value of $553.05K USD, with an average unit price of $51.72 per kg, reflecting a pullback from the stronger August figures.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Tobacco Products Import trend displayed notable volatility in 2025, particularly with a sharp drop in April to $51.43K USD, which coincided with increased trade tensions such as the US raising duties on all imports from Botswana effective April 9, 2025 [Global Trade Alert]. This external policy shift likely contributed to disrupted trade flows, followed by a recovery through mid-year that saw unit prices range widely from $43.81 to $77.62 per kg, indicating market adjustments to supply and demand imbalances. The sequential decrease from August to September points to a stabilization phase, possibly driven by inventory recalibration or broader economic factors affecting the hs code 2402 value trend.

Botswana Tobacco Products Import (HS 2402) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import of HS Code 2402 in September 2025 is overwhelmingly concentrated in a single product type. Cigarettes containing tobacco (sub-code 24022090) dominate, accounting for 97% of the total import value and nearly all the volume. This product trades at a very low unit price of just $0.16 per unit, confirming its role as a high-volume, low-cost staple. One shipment of a premium cigarette variant (24022010) was recorded at a much higher price, but its minimal volume makes it an isolated anomaly in the trade flow.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports form two clear groups based on product form. The first consists of cigars and cigarillos containing tobacco (24021090), which trade at a mid-range price. The second includes a small volume of cigars made with tobacco substitutes (24029014). The extremely low average price of the dominant cigarette category points to a market for standardized, commoditized goods rather than highly differentiated or premium products. The structure of Botswana's HS Code 2402 import trade data suggests a focus on fulfilling bulk demand for mass-market tobacco products.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This import profile indicates that buyers have significant pricing power, sourcing large volumes of low-cost cigarettes. Suppliers compete primarily on cost efficiency and volume delivery rather than product differentiation or brand value. For companies analyzing HS Code 2402 trade data, the strategic focus should be on securing competitive supply contracts for high-volume cigarette shipments, as the market structure offers little opportunity for premium positioning.

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 is the dominant source for Botswana's Tobacco Products imports in September 2025, accounting for 99.67% of the total import value. Its 99.35% share of the total weight is nearly identical to its value share, indicating the trade consists of finished goods with consistent pricing rather than bulk raw materials. The extremely low import value shares from Cuba, Botswana, and Nicaragua (all below 0.15%) confirm South Africa's near-total market control for this HS Code 2402 trade.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The trade flow forms two clear clusters. South Africa alone constitutes the Volume/Hub Cluster, supplying virtually all the physical product and value. All other partners form a minor Transactional Cluster, characterized by single shipments with negligible volume and value. For Tobacco Products, this pattern suggests that aside from the main supply channel from South Africa, there are only infrequent, small-scale shipments, potentially for sample purposes or highly specialized niche products not available from the primary supplier.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's import of Tobacco Products is almost entirely dependent on South Africa, creating a significant supply chain risk. Diversifying sources is a critical strategy to mitigate potential disruptions from this single point of failure. External news confirms a heightened trade risk environment; a United States government measure enacted in April 2025 increased tariffs on all imports from Botswana (United States of America). While this particular policy affects Botswana's exports, it signals broader global trade tensions that could indirectly impact its import channels and costs, reinforcing the need for a resilient and diversified sourcing plan for key imports like Tobacco Products.

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

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Tobacco Products (HS 2402) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana Tobacco Products import suppliers market in September 2025 is highly concentrated. A small group of suppliers with high value and high frequency dominates, accounting for 99.28% of the import value. This indicates that the typical trade involves large, regular shipments from these key players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of hs code 2402 suppliers shows that the dominant group, including companies like BAT SOUTH AFRICA, consists of direct manufacturers, pointing to a direct-to-factory sourcing model. The other active cluster involves low-value but high-frequency suppliers, such as UNDER THE INFLUENCE PTY LTD, which likely serve as smaller distributors or niche operators in the market.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's heavy reliance on a few large manufacturers for tobacco imports creates efficiency but also vulnerability to supply disruptions. Diversifying with the smaller, frequent suppliers could reduce risk. The US duty increase on imports from Botswana [Global Trade Alert] may add broader trade pressure, potentially affecting import costs or economic conditions, though it does not directly target tobacco imports.

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

Check Full Tobacco Products Supplier lists

Action Plan for Tobacco Products Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 2402 trade data to identify and qualify secondary suppliers from outside South Africa to diversify your sourcing and reduce the critical risk of a single-point supply chain failure for Botswana's Tobacco Products Import.
• Analyze the shipment frequency and volume data of the dominant high-value suppliers to negotiate better long-term contracts, securing stable pricing and reliable volume for your Botswana Tobacco Products Import operations.
• Monitor the small, high-frequency suppliers for niche or premium product opportunities to capture underserved market segments and add higher-margin products to your portfolio, mitigating the low-price competition in the main market.
• Develop a contingency plan for your Tobacco Products supply chain by mapping alternative logistics routes and pre-qualifying backup suppliers, ensuring business continuity if geopolitical tensions or new tariffs disrupt primary trade flows.
• Leverage detailed hs code 2402 trade data to benchmark your unit costs against the market average of $0.16, focusing your procurement strategy on achieving volume-based efficiencies and maintaining competitive pricing.

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 September?

Botswana's tobacco imports declined to $553.05K in September 2025, reflecting market stabilization after volatile trade conditions, including a sharp April drop linked to US tariff hikes on Botswana exports.

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

South Africa dominates, supplying 99.67% of import value, while Cuba, Botswana, and Nicaragua contribute negligible shares below 0.15%.

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

Prices vary due to product specialization: low-cost cigarettes (24022090 at $0.16/unit) dominate, while rare premium variants (24022010) or cigars (24021090) command higher prices.

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

Importers should prioritize securing bulk contracts with dominant manufacturers like BAT SOUTH AFRICA while diversifying suppliers to mitigate over-reliance on South Africa.

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

Suppliers must compete on cost efficiency for high-volume cigarette shipments, as Botswana’s market favors standardized, low-margin products over premium differentiation.

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

The imports primarily serve mass-market demand, with 97% being low-cost cigarettes (24022090), indicating commoditized consumption rather than niche or luxury use.