Medical instruments imports in Botswana: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of medical instruments by Botswana reached $16.5 million in 2024 (487 tonnes). Value fell 15% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $32.1 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 | $16.5M | 487 t |
| 2023 | $19.4M | 721 t |
| 2022 | $23.0M | 636 t |
| 2021 | $22.7M | 822 t |
| 2020 | $24.4M | 6.0K t |
| 2019 | $28.8M | 1.0K t |
| 2018 | $32.1M | 4.2K t |
| 2017 | $15.2M | 505 t |
Where Botswana imports medical instruments from
South Africa alone supplied 71% of it. Among the main suppliers, Netherlands grew fastest (+191% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $11.8M | 71% |
| China | $1.1M | 6.6% |
| Germany | $955K | 5.8% |
| United States | $859K | 5.2% |
| Netherlands | $748K | 4.5% |
| India | $193K | 1.2% |
| Italy | $166K | 1% |
| Hong Kong | $157K | 1% |
| Japan | $101K | 0.6% |
| Egypt | $83K | 0.5% |
Product types under HS 9018
| 9018.90 | Medical instruments (other) | 68% |
| 9018.39 | Catheters and cannulae | 10% |
| 9018.19 | Electrodiagnostic equipment | 5% |
| 9018.31 | Medical syringes | 4.8% |
| 9018.50 | Ophthalmic instruments | 3% |
| 9018.49 | Dental instruments | 2.7% |
| 9018.32 | Medical needles | 2.4% |
| 9018.12 | Ultrasound machines | 2.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 9018.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $33.90 per kg, close to the world average of $37.39.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Medical instruments exports from Botswana
In 2024, Botswana exported medical instruments worth $208 thousand (1 tonnes). South Africa alone took 97% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $203K | 97% |
| Netherlands | $2K | 0.8% |
| Zimbabwe | $1K | 0.7% |
| Malawi | $1K | 0.6% |
| Zambia | $1K | 0.4% |
| Germany | $0K | 0.1% |
| Namibia | $0K | 0.1% |
| Ireland | $0K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Botswana?
The shipment records behind Botswana medical instruments imports (HS 9018): 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 9018: Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight testing instruments.
Common questions
What is the value of medical instruments imported by Botswana?
Botswana imported medical instruments worth $16.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 487 tonnes. That ranks it 139th of 226 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 15% on 2023.
Which countries supply medical instruments to Botswana?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 71% of the value ($11.8 million), followed by China (7%) and Germany (6%). The top three together account for 84%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 398% on the year.
What is the average import price of medical instruments per kg?
The average declared import value was about $33.90 per kg in 2024, 9% below the world average of $37.39 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of medical instruments to Botswana changed since 2017?
Imports went from $15.2 million in 2017 to $16.5 million in 2024, an increase of 9%. The peak was 2018 at $32.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $22.8 million a year.
Does Botswana also export medical instruments?
Yes. Botswana exported $208 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to South Africa, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. On balance Botswana is a net importer of this product, by about $16.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for medical instruments?
The HS code for medical instruments is heading 9018. In Botswana the largest six-digit codes were 9018.90 (68% of the value) and 9018.39 (10%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Botswana, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World medical instruments trade: top importers and exporters
Medical instruments product types in Botswana
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.