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

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s wheat flour imports under HS code 1101 surged in February 2025, with value up 44% and unit prices rising to $0.69/kg, signaling strong demand. The market is dominated by premium-grade flour (11010090), which commands a 38% value share despite lower volume, while lower-tier grades show tight competition. Nearly all imports come from South Africa, creating high geographic risk, and supplier concentration is extreme, with just two manufacturers handling 94% of the value. This analysis covers February 2025 and is based on cleanly processed customs data from the yTrade database.

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 other processed foods. Its global demand remains stable due to its essential role in daily diets and industrial food manufacturing. Botswana's wheat flour import under this code reflects its reliance on external sources to meet domestic consumption needs.

Current Context and Strategic Position

Global wheat prices continue to fluctuate due to supply chain disruptions and climate-related production challenges, impacting import-dependent markets like Botswana. As a landlocked country with limited arable land, Botswana's wheat flour import is critical for ensuring food security and supporting its growing food processing sector. Monitoring HS Code 1101 trade data is essential to anticipate price shifts and supply risks. Strategic sourcing and diversification of suppliers will remain key priorities for Botswana to stabilize its wheat flour supply in 2025.

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) Price Trend

Key Observations

In February 2025, Botswana's wheat flour imports under HS code 1101 surged to 279.38K USD, with the unit price rising to $0.69 per kg. This represents a sharp increase from January's 193.55K USD and $0.61 per kg, indicating a strong start to the year for this essential commodity.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Botswana Wheat Flour Import trend shows robust sequential growth, with both volume and value climbing by over 26% month-on-month in February. This momentum aligns with typical post-harvest inventory builds and potential global supply tightness, which often drive import activity early in the year. The hs code 1101 value trend's upward shift may also reflect currency fluctuations or heightened demand cycles in regional markets, supporting the overall import expansion.

Botswana Wheat Flour Import (HS 1101) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data for February 2025, Botswana's import of wheat flour under HS Code 1101 is highly concentrated in a single specialized grade. Sub-code 11010090, described as wheat or meslin flour, dominates with a 38% value share despite handling only 31% of the weight, indicating a premium product traded at $0.84 per kilogram. This unit price is significantly higher than other categories, confirming its role as the market's value leader.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining imports are split into two clear tiers based on unit cost. The first tier includes 11010030 and 11010010, with lower prices of $0.58/kg and $0.71/kg respectively, suggesting these are bulk or economy-grade flour shipments. The second tier, represented by 11010020 at $0.65/kg, occupies a middle position. This structure shows Botswana’s HS Code 1101 trade is typical of a bulk commodity market, where slight price differences reflect grade variations rather than strong product differentiation.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For buyers sourcing wheat flour, this import breakdown under HS Code 1101 shows limited pricing power for suppliers outside the premium segment. Competitive pressure is high in the lower-grade tiers, making cost negotiation easier for high-volume purchases. Importers should focus on aligning flour grade with end-use to avoid overpaying for unnecessary quality, especially when analyzing HS Code 1101 trade data for procurement planning.

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 import market in February 2025 is overwhelmingly concentrated on a single supplier. South Africa supplied 99.95% of the total import value and 99.99% of the weight. The value share is slightly lower than the weight share, suggesting Botswana's purchases from South Africa may include a mix of standard and slightly lower-cost flour varieties. The calculated unit price for these shipments is approximately $0.69 per kilogram.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import structure for HS Code 1101 shows a single dominant cluster with no meaningful secondary sources. South Africa operates as the sole volume and value hub, a pattern typical for a staple food product where established regional supply chains and logistical efficiency dictate sourcing. Zimbabwe's presence is negligible, representing just 0.05% of the value from a single shipment, and does not form a distinct commercial cluster.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's near-total reliance on South Africa for its Wheat Flour imports creates a significant vulnerability to any supply chain disruption from its southern neighbor. This dependency exposes the country to risks from potential port delays, domestic South African production issues, or changes in trade policy. To build resilience, importers should actively explore diversifying their sourcing to include other regional producers to mitigate this single-point supply risk. No specific trade news or policy was announced to alter this dynamic.

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

In February 2025, the Botswana Wheat Flour import market shows a highly concentrated structure. According to yTrade data, a small group of suppliers dominates, handling over 94% of the import value and 98% of the quantity. These key players are responsible for the majority of shipments, making them the core of Botswana's Wheat Flour supply chain during this period.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining active suppliers are smaller entities with high shipment frequency but low value contributions, accounting for about 5% of the value. The dominant suppliers, such as GODRICH FLOUR MILLS and JUST FLOUR CC, appear to be direct manufacturers, indicating a Direct-to-Factory sourcing approach for HS code 1101. This suggests that Botswana's imports rely heavily on established production sources rather than intermediaries.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

For importers in Botswana, the strategy should focus on securing relationships with the dominant manufacturers to ensure steady supply, but this concentration poses a risk if disruptions occur. Diversifying with smaller suppliers could mitigate vulnerabilities, though their lower volume limits immediate impact. With no recent trade news affecting this, the current model remains efficient but requires monitoring for potential supply chain shocks.

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

• Diversify sourcing beyond South Africa by analyzing hs code 1101 trade data for alternative regional suppliers to mitigate the critical supply chain risk from a single origin country.
• Strengthen direct relationships with dominant manufacturers like GODRICH FLOUR MILLS to secure stable supply, as they control the core of the Wheat Flour supply chain for Botswana's import market.
• Optimize procurement by aligning flour grade with end-use using detailed hs code 1101 trade data to avoid overpaying for premium 11010090 grade when a standard grade suffices, reducing costs.
• Continuously monitor South African production and trade policy for early warnings of potential disruptions to the Botswana Wheat Flour Import supply chain, enabling proactive contingency planning.

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 February?

Botswana's wheat flour imports surged by 26% month-on-month in February 2025, reaching 279.38K USD, with unit prices rising to $0.69/kg. This reflects post-harvest inventory builds and potential global supply tightness.

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

South Africa dominates Botswana's wheat flour imports, supplying 99.95% of the value and 99.99% of the weight. Zimbabwe's contribution is negligible at just 0.05% of the value.

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

Price differences stem from grade variations within HS Code 1101. Sub-code 11010090 (premium flour) trades at $0.84/kg, while bulk-grade sub-codes like 11010030 and 11010010 cost $0.58-$0.71/kg.

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

Importers should prioritize direct relationships with dominant manufacturers like GODRICH FLOUR MILLS while exploring diversification to mitigate South Africa's near-total supply reliance.

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

South African suppliers hold near-monopoly leverage, but Botswana's dependency creates opportunities for regional competitors to offer alternative sourcing options.

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

Wheat flour is a staple food commodity, primarily used for domestic consumption in Botswana, with imports structured around bulk and premium-grade market segments.