Botswana Wheat Flour Import Market -- HS Code 1101 Trade Data & Price Trend (Apr 2025)

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s wheat flour imports under HS code 1101 in April 2025 reveal a market dominated by premium-grade flour, with sub-code 11010030 commanding a 68% transaction share and a 34% value share despite lower volume. The trade is highly concentrated, with just 23.6% of suppliers handling 94% of import value, creating supply chain vulnerability. All imports originate from South Africa, exposing Botswana to single-source risk. After a volatile March spike, April’s $293.71K import value signals a return to stability, likely due to tariff-related stockpiling adjustments. This analysis is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database for April 2025.

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) Background

What is HS Code 1101?

HS Code 1101 refers to wheat or meslin flour, a staple commodity used primarily in food production, including baked goods, pasta, and processed foods. Its global demand remains stable due to its essential role in daily diets and industrial food manufacturing. Botswana's reliance on wheat flour imports underscores its significance in the country's food security and retail sectors.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Recent updates to Botswana's tariff schedules highlight ongoing adjustments to customs duties and trade measures, including potential safeguards or rebates for imported goods like wheat flour [BURS]. This aligns with global trends, as seen in the 2025 Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions (USITC), emphasizing the need for accurate classification and duty assessment. Botswana's wheat flour import market is strategically vital, given its limited domestic production and dependence on foreign suppliers. Monitoring hs code 1101 trade data is critical to anticipate price fluctuations and policy shifts impacting Botswana's food supply chain.

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) Price Trend

Key Observations

In April 2025, Botswana's wheat flour imports under HS code 1101 were valued at $293.71 thousand, with a unit price of $0.74 per kilogram. This represents a significant decrease from the previous month's peak but aligns more closely with earlier monthly averages.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Wheat Flour Import trend exhibited sharp volatility in early 2025, with import value surging to $1.35 million in March before sharply correcting in April. This fluctuation likely reflects importers adjusting to potential tariff changes highlighted in the Botswana Unified Revenue Service's January tariff notes [BURS], which may have prompted accelerated shipments ahead of policy implementations. The hs code 1101 value trend's return to lower levels in April suggests a normalization after temporary stockpiling, consistent with typical inventory cycles in staple food imports.

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In April 2025, Botswana's import of wheat flour under HS Code 1101 is heavily concentrated in a premium sub-type. According to yTrade data, the sub-code 11010030 for wheat or meslin flour dominates with a 68% share of import transactions and a 34% value share, despite handling only 28% of the weight. Its higher unit price of $0.89 per kilogram indicates a specialized, higher-grade product that commands a price premium in the market.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports under HS Code 1101 for Botswana can be grouped into two clear categories based on unit price and value. The first group includes sub-codes like 11010090 with a unit price of $0.83 per kilogram, representing a mid-tier flour grade. The second group consists of sub-codes such as 11010020 and 11010010, with lower unit prices of $0.71 and $0.58 per kilogram, indicating standard or economy-grade flour. This structure shows that Botswana's HS Code 1101 import trade involves differentiated goods with varying quality levels, rather than uniform bulk commodities.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For importers, the price disparities in HS Code 1101 trade data suggest that sourcing higher-grade flour from sub-codes like 11010030 could offer better margin potential but requires targeting specific suppliers. Conversely, focusing on lower-priced options may reduce costs but could limit pricing power in competitive markets. Strategic decisions should balance quality needs with cost efficiency to optimize Botswana's import strategy for wheat flour.

Table: Botswana HS Code 1101) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 1101 Breakdown

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Botswana's wheat flour imports for April 2025 came entirely from a single source. South Africa held a 100% share of all import value, weight, and shipment frequency. The equal share between value and weight indicates a consistent, standard-grade trade flow for this food staple, with no significant premium or bulk discount pricing observed from this sole supplier.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

With South Africa accounting for all import activity, no other country clusters are present. The complete absence of alternative sourcing partners points to a market supplied by a single, dominant regional origin. This lack of diversification suggests that Botswana's supply chain for this essential food product is heavily integrated with its southern neighbor, likely due to established trade routes and logistical efficiency.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Total reliance on South Africa for wheat flour imports creates a significant vulnerability for Botswana's food security. Any disruption in South African production or cross-border logistics would immediately impact local supply. To build resilience, Botswana must actively develop alternative sourcing options from other regional producers to mitigate this single-point supply chain risk.

Table: Botswana Wheat Flour (HS 1101) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Wheat Flour (HS 1101) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

According to yTrade data, the Botswana Wheat Flour Import supplier market in April 2025 was highly concentrated. A small group of high-value, high-frequency suppliers, representing just 23.6% of total shipments, accounted for 94.06% of the import value and 96.65% of the quantity. This group defines the typical trade, with its large, regular shipments dominating the market. The remaining 76.4% of shipments were low-value and high-frequency, but their collective impact on total import value was minimal at just 5.94%.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The profile of HS code 1101 suppliers indicates a direct-to-factory trade structure. Representative companies like JUST FLOUR CC and SUNRICH are manufacturers or end-users, not trading intermediaries. This suggests imports are primarily for direct consumption or processing within Botswana. The absence of any low-frequency suppliers, whether high or low value, points to a market with no niche or sporadic import activity.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's wheat flour import strategy relies heavily on a few key suppliers for volume and value. This creates vulnerability to supply disruptions from these partners. Buyers should diversify their supplier base to mitigate this risk. The consistent, high-volume nature of the trade suggests stable demand, but any changes in supplier performance or trade policies could significantly impact supply chains.

Table: Botswana Wheat Flour (HS 1101) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Wheat Flour Supplier lists

Action Plan for Wheat Flour Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 1101 trade data to identify and qualify alternative regional suppliers, reducing Botswana's Wheat Flour Import reliance on South Africa and mitigating single-source supply chain risk.
• Analyze unit price disparities in the hs code 1101 trade data to source optimal flour grades, balancing cost and quality to improve margin potential in the Botswana Wheat Flour Import market.
• Monitor shipment frequency and volume from dominant suppliers using trade data, enabling proactive inventory planning to avoid disruptions in the Wheat Flour supply chain.
• Develop contingency plans for the Wheat Flour supply chain by tracking real-time hs code 1101 trade data, ensuring rapid response to any cross-border logistical or production issues.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Wheat Flour Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Botswana Wheat Flour Import 2025 April?

The sharp volatility in Botswana's wheat flour imports reflects a surge in March 2025 ($1.35M) followed by a correction to $293.71K in April, likely due to importers adjusting to potential tariff changes. The April return to lower levels suggests normalization after temporary stockpiling.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Wheat Flour (HS Code 1101) 2025 April?

Botswana sourced 100% of its wheat flour imports from South Africa in April 2025, with no diversification to other origins.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across origin countries of Botswana Wheat Flour Import?

Price differences stem from product specialization: sub-code 11010030 (premium flour) had a $0.89/kg unit price, while economy-grade options like 11010010 traded at $0.58/kg.

Q4. What should importers in Botswana focus on when buying Wheat Flour?

Importers should balance quality needs with cost efficiency, targeting premium sub-codes (e.g., 11010030) for margin potential while diversifying suppliers to mitigate reliance on South Africa.

Q5. What does this Botswana Wheat Flour import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

South African suppliers dominate Botswana's market, but the lack of competition creates vulnerability. Regional producers could exploit this by offering alternative sourcing options.

Q6. How is Wheat Flour typically used in this trade flow?

The direct-to-factory trade structure (e.g., buyers like JUST FLOUR CC) indicates imports are for direct consumption or processing within Botswana's manufacturing sector.