Cars imports in Botswana: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Botswana imported cars worth $76.2 million (4.5 thousand tonnes). Value fell 47% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $183.6 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $76.2M | 4.5K t |
| 2023 | $144.8M | 26.6K t |
| 2022 | $124.0M | 23.0K t |
| 2021 | $143.8M | 35.5K t |
| 2020 | $141.9M | 38.7K t |
| 2019 | $183.6M | 54.3K t |
| 2018 | $151.6M | 49.4K t |
| 2017 | $101.1M | 7.5K t |
Where Botswana imports cars from
One supplier dominates: South Africa accounted for 76% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Namibia grew fastest (+671% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $57.8M | 76% |
| Namibia | $7.8M | 10% |
| Japan | $7.2M | 9.5% |
| China | $1.6M | 2.1% |
| South Korea | $854K | 1.1% |
| United Kingdom | $256K | 0.3% |
| Slovakia | $177K | 0.2% |
| Australia | $166K | 0.2% |
| Zambia | $136K | 0.2% |
| Mozambique | $81K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 8703
| 8703.23 | Petrol cars 1500-3000cc | 34% |
| 8703.33 | Diesel cars >2500cc | 19% |
| 8703.22 | Petrol cars 1000-1500cc | 13% |
| 8703.32 | Diesel cars 1500-2500cc | 11% |
| 8703.24 | Petrol cars >3000cc | 8.4% |
| 8703.40 | Hybrid petrol-electric cars | 5.8% |
| 8703.21 | Petrol cars <1000cc | 3.4% |
| 8703.90 | Cars (other power types) | 2.7% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8703.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $16.91 per kg, close to the world average of $16.22.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cars exports from Botswana
Botswana exported $1.1 million of cars in 2024 (193 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Zambia (30%), Zimbabwe (27%), Namibia (10%).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | $324K | 30% |
| Zimbabwe | $285K | 27% |
| Namibia | $109K | 10% |
| Mozambique | $97K | 9% |
| United Kingdom | $94K | 8.8% |
| Germany | $77K | 7.2% |
| Tanzania | $25K | 2.4% |
| South Africa | $21K | 1.9% |
| Spain | $18K | 1.7% |
| Malawi | $9K | 0.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in Botswana?
The shipment records behind Botswana cars imports (HS 8703): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8703: Motor cars and other motor vehicles; principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading no. 8702), including station wagons and racing cars.
Common questions
What is the value of cars imported by Botswana?
Botswana imported cars worth $76.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 148th of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 47% on 2023.
Which countries supply cars to Botswana?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 76% of the value ($57.8 million), followed by Namibia (10%) and Japan (10%). The top three together account for 96%, out of 22 supplier countries in total. Namibia grew fastest among the top ten, up 671% on the year.
What is the average import price of cars per kg?
The average declared import value was about $16.91 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $16.22 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of cars to Botswana changed since 2017?
Imports went from $101.1 million in 2017 to $76.2 million in 2024, a fall of 25%. The peak was 2019 at $183.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $133.4 million a year.
Does Botswana also export cars?
Yes. Botswana exported $1.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. On balance Botswana is a net importer of this product, by about $75.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for cars?
The HS code for cars is heading 8703. In Botswana the largest six-digit codes were 8703.23 (34% of the value) and 8703.33 (19%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Botswana. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
Cars product types in Botswana
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