Botswana Wheat Import Market -- HS Code 1001 Trade Data & Price Trend (Q1 2025)

Botswana Wheat Import (HS 1001) Key Takeaways

Botswana’s wheat imports under HS Code 1001 in Q1 2025 were dominated by bulk, undifferentiated non-durum wheat, reflecting a price-driven commodity trade with minimal product diversification. Import volume surged 376% from January to March, signaling strong demand and stable unit prices at $0.36/kg. The market relies heavily on a few high-value suppliers like SEABOARD, creating supply chain risks, while South Africa alone accounted for 50% of imports, exposing geographic concentration. This analysis, covering Q1 2025, is based on processed customs data from the yTrade database.

Botswana Wheat Import (HS 1001) Background

What is HS Code 1001?

HS Code 1001 covers wheat and meslin, a staple commodity critical for food security and industrial processing. Primarily used in flour production, bakery goods, and animal feed, wheat maintains stable global demand due to its essential role in diets and agribusiness. Botswana's reliance on imports for this product underscores its strategic importance in regional trade flows.

Current Context and Strategic Position

The 2025 Trade Policy Agenda highlights ongoing adjustments to tariff rate quotas for agricultural imports, including wheat, under agreements like MERCOSUR [USTR]. Botswana's wheat import market is particularly sensitive to these policy shifts, given its dependence on foreign supply to meet domestic demand. Monitoring HS Code 1001 trade data is essential for stakeholders to navigate tariff changes and ensure supply chain resilience. The country's position as a net importer underscores the need for vigilance in tracking trade dynamics and pricing trends.

Botswana Wheat Import (HS 1001) Price Trend

Key Observations

Botswana's wheat import trend in Q1 2025 showed significant expansion, with import value reaching 5.97 million USD in March, while unit prices increased slightly to $0.36 per kg, indicating robust demand and stable cost conditions for hs code 1001.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The sequential growth from January to March was pronounced, with import weight surging from 3.47 million kg to 16.52 million kg, reflecting accelerated procurement likely driven by seasonal stock replenishment cycles and potential pre-harvest inventory builds. This momentum aligns with trade policy stability, as outlined in tariff updates from [BURS], which may have supported consistent import flows amid global wheat market adjustments, reinforcing the upward trajectory in both volume and value for Botswana's imports.

Botswana Wheat Import (HS 1001) HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, Botswana's import of HS Code 1001 in Q1 2025 is almost entirely specialized in a single product. Non-durum wheat, excluding seed, accounts for the full volume and value of these imports, with a unit price of $0.36 per kilogram. A minor, high-value outlier exists—durum wheat seed—but its negligible volume means it does not influence the overall market structure for this period.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The market structure for Botswana's HS Code 1001 import is simple and points to trade in a fungible bulk commodity. All meaningful volume falls into a single category: non-durum wheat for general use (not seed). This lack of segmentation by grade or specialized use confirms that this trade is driven by price and volume, not product differentiation or value-added processing.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

This analysis of HS Code 1001 trade data shows importers have little pricing power, as they rely on a single, undifferentiated product. For Botswana, strategic focus should remain on securing stable, cost-effective bulk wheat supplies. Diversifying into higher-value wheat categories like certified seeds could be considered but would represent a new, niche segment rather than a shift in the core import strategy.

Table: Botswana HS Code 1001) Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

Check Detailed HS Code 1001 Breakdown

Botswana Wheat Import (HS 1001) Origin Countries

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In Q1 2025, Botswana's Wheat imports showed strong geographic concentration, with South Africa as the dominant source, accounting for 49.7% of weight and 50.9% of value. The value share slightly exceeding weight indicates a preference for higher-grade Wheat. Frequency aligns closely, suggesting consistent bulk trade patterns for this commodity.

Origin Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import origins cluster into a volume-driven group: South Africa, Lithuania, and Russia collectively represent over 93% of weight, highlighting bulk sourcing from major grain-producing regions. Lithuania's significant share, despite its distance, may stem from efficient EU trade networks. Smaller contributions from Poland, Latvia, and Namibia serve as supplementary sources, with minimal transactional activity.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Botswana's heavy dependence on South Africa for Wheat imports under HS Code 1001 creates supply chain vulnerability; exploring alternatives like European or regional partners could reduce risk. The minor re-import from Botswana itself likely reflects returned goods or inventory adjustments, but it does not significantly impact the overall import strategy.

Table: Botswana Wheat (HS 1001) Top Origin Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Origin Countries Profile

Botswana Wheat (HS 1001) Suppliers Analysis

Supplier Concentration and Dominance

In 2025 Q1, the Botswana Wheat import market shows extreme supplier concentration. According to yTrade data, high value and high frequency suppliers dominate, accounting for 97.32% of the import value. This group handles nearly all trade volume, making it the core of Botswana's Wheat import suppliers. The typical trade involves large, regular shipments from a few key players.

Strategic Supplier Clusters and Trade Role

The remaining supplier groups have minimal impact, with low value and high frequency suppliers contributing only 2.68% in value. The dominant suppliers, such as SEABOARD and SEABOARD OVERSEAS TRADING, are trading companies, indicating an intermediated market where agents facilitate most transactions. The profile of HS code 1001 suppliers points to a trade environment driven by specialized intermediaries rather than direct producers.

Sourcing Strategy and Vulnerability

Botswana's heavy reliance on a small number of intermediaries for Wheat imports creates supply chain risks, such as price volatility or disruption. Strategic focus should include diversifying sources or negotiating secure contracts. The U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule revisions in 2025 [USITC] could affect import costs if sourcing involves U.S.-linked entities, highlighting the need for cost monitoring and contingency planning.

Table: Botswana Wheat (HS 1001) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Check Full Wheat Supplier lists

Action Plan for Wheat Market Operation and Expansion

• Use hs code 1001 trade data to actively diversify sourcing beyond South Africa, targeting major producers like those in the EU, to mitigate supply chain disruption risks for the Botswana Wheat Import market.
• Monitor and benchmark global wheat price indices against the unit price in trade data to time purchases strategically, securing lower costs for this bulk commodity import.
• Negotiate long-term contracts with the dominant high-frequency intermediaries to lock in stable volumes and predictable pricing, strengthening the entire Wheat supply chain.
• Explore importing small volumes of higher-value products like certified seeds, as indicated in the trade data, to test new market segments without disrupting the core bulk procurement strategy.
• Develop a contingency plan that maps alternative logistics routes and suppliers, using trade data insights, to protect the Botswana Wheat Import operation from geopolitical or trade policy shifts.

Take Action Now —— Explore Botswana Wheat Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Botswana's wheat imports surged in Q1 2025, with volume rising from 3.47 million kg in January to 16.52 million kg by March, driven by seasonal stock replenishment and stable unit prices ($0.36/kg). The bulk commodity nature of non-durum wheat imports reinforces this demand-driven growth.

Q2. Who are the main origin countries of Botswana Wheat (HS Code 1001) 2025 Q1?

South Africa dominates, supplying 49.7% of weight and 50.9% of value, followed by Lithuania and Russia, which collectively account for over 93% of total import volume.

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

Price differences are minimal, as nearly all imports are undifferentiated non-durum wheat ($0.36/kg). The slight premium for South African wheat reflects marginally higher grade, not product specialization.

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

Importers should prioritize securing bulk contracts with dominant intermediaries like SEABOARD while exploring diversification to mitigate risks from over-reliance on South Africa and a few suppliers.

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

Suppliers benefit from stable, high-volume demand but must compete on price due to Botswana’s reliance on fungible bulk wheat. Niche products like certified seeds remain untapped opportunities.

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

Imported wheat (HS Code 1001) is primarily non-durum, bulk-grade wheat for general consumption, not seed or specialized processing, indicating its role as a staple commodity.

Detailed Monthly Report

Botswana HS1001 Import Snapshot 2025 JAN

Botswana HS1001 Import Snapshot 2025 FEB

Botswana HS1001 Import Snapshot 2025 MAR