Phones and network equipment imports in Botswana: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Botswana imported phones and network equipment worth $67.2 million (466 tonnes). Value fell 19% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2020, at $101.7 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 | $67.2M | 466 t |
| 2023 | $83.0M | 768 t |
| 2022 | $76.6M | 679 t |
| 2021 | $83.0M | 703 t |
| 2020 | $101.7M | 1.4K t |
| 2019 | $85.5M | 515 t |
| 2018 | $85.4M | 673 t |
| 2017 | $65.1M | 272 t |
Where Botswana imports phones and network equipment from
South Africa alone supplied 54% of it. Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest (+269% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $36.1M | 54% |
| China | $14.4M | 22% |
| Hong Kong | $5.7M | 8.5% |
| United States | $4.4M | 6.5% |
| United Kingdom | $1.8M | 2.6% |
| Netherlands | $1.7M | 2.5% |
| Namibia | $765K | 1.1% |
| Singapore | $692K | 1% |
| Germany | $587K | 0.9% |
| Israel | $500K | 0.7% |
Product types under HS 8517
| 8517.12 | Mobile phones | 46% |
| 8517.62 | Transmission and switching apparatus | 36% |
| 8517.70 | Telephone and communication parts | 7.1% |
| 8517.61 | Base stations | 6.8% |
| 8517.18 | Telephone sets (other) | 2.3% |
| 8517.69 | Communication apparatus (other) | 2.2% |
| 8517.11 | Cordless telephones | 0.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8517.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $144.23 per kg, 40% below the world average of $239.13, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Phones and network equipment exports from Botswana
In 2024, Botswana exported phones and network equipment worth $1.3 million (7 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Hong Kong (30%), Netherlands (22%), Hungary (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Zambia grew fastest (+843% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | $403K | 30% |
| Netherlands | $289K | 22% |
| Hungary | $167K | 13% |
| Namibia | $138K | 11% |
| Zambia | $133K | 10% |
| South Africa | $131K | 9.9% |
| Lithuania | $24K | 1.8% |
| Philippines | $20K | 1.5% |
| United Kingdom | $4K | 0.3% |
| Seychelles | $3K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in Botswana?
The shipment records behind Botswana phones and network equipment imports (HS 8517): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 8517: Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular/wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data (including wired/wireless networks), excluding items of 8443, 8525, 8527, or 8528.
Common questions
What is the value of phones and network equipment imported by Botswana?
Botswana imported phones and network equipment worth $67.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 466 tonnes. That ranks it 132nd of 226 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 19% on 2023.
Which countries supply phones and network equipment to Botswana?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 54% of the value ($36.1 million), followed by China (21%) and Hong Kong (9%). The top three together account for 84%, out of 36 supplier countries in total. Singapore grew fastest among the top ten, up 600% on the year.
What is the average import price of phones and network equipment per kg?
The average declared import value was about $144.23 per kg in 2024, 40% below the world average of $239.13 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of phones and network equipment to Botswana changed since 2017?
Imports went from $65.1 million in 2017 to $67.2 million in 2024, an increase of 3%. The peak was 2020 at $101.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $80.9 million a year.
Does Botswana also export phones and network equipment?
Yes. Botswana exported $1.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Hungary. On balance Botswana is a net importer of this product, by about $65.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for phones and network equipment?
The HS code for phones and network equipment is heading 8517. In Botswana the largest six-digit codes were 8517.12 (46% of the value) and 8517.62 (36%).
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 phones and network equipment trade: top importers and exporters
Phones and network equipment product types in Botswana
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