Special purpose vehicles imports in Botswana: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of special purpose vehicles by Botswana reached $10.7 million in 2024 (1.7 thousand tonnes). That is 25% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $97.8 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 | $10.7M | 1.7K t |
| 2023 | $14.3M | 1.7K t |
| 2022 | $7.0M | 1.4K t |
| 2021 | $33.4M | 2.0K t |
| 2020 | $38.6M | 1.8K t |
| 2019 | $97.8M | 2.6K t |
| 2018 | $11.9M | 1.2K t |
| 2017 | $8.1M | 899 t |
Where Botswana imports special purpose vehicles from
Most of the value came from South Africa (40%), China (30%), Austria (17%). Among the main suppliers, Austria grew fastest (+313% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $4.2M | 40% |
| China | $3.3M | 30% |
| Austria | $1.8M | 17% |
| Namibia | $997K | 9.3% |
| Italy | $302K | 2.8% |
| Zimbabwe | $44K | 0.4% |
| Malawi | $21K | 0.2% |
| Japan | $19K | 0.2% |
| Netherlands | $17K | 0.2% |
| United Kingdom | $13K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 8705
| 8705.90 | Specialized service vehicles | 58% |
| 8705.30 | Fire trucks | 21% |
| 8705.40 | Concrete mixer trucks | 11% |
| 8705.10 | Crane trucks | 8.3% |
| 8705.20 | Mobile drilling vehicles | 1.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8705.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.35 per kg, close to the world average of $7.07.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Special purpose vehicles exports from Botswana
Exports of special purpose vehicles by Botswana reached $2.3 million in 2024 (116 tonnes). South Africa alone took 88% of it. Among the main buyer markets, South Africa grew fastest (+590% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $2.0M | 88% |
| Mozambique | $176K | 7.6% |
| Zimbabwe | $109K | 4.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in Botswana?
The shipment records behind Botswana special purpose vehicles imports (HS 8705): 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 8705: Special purpose motor vehicles; not those for the transport of persons or goods (e.g. breakdown lorries, road sweeper lorries, spraying lorries, mobile workshops, mobile radiological units etc).
Common questions
What is the value of special purpose vehicles imported by Botswana?
Botswana imported special purpose vehicles worth $10.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 128th of 217 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 25% on 2023.
Which countries supply special purpose vehicles to Botswana?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 40% of the value ($4.2 million), followed by China (30%) and Austria (17%). The top three together account for 87%, out of 10 supplier countries in total. Austria grew fastest among the top ten, up 313% on the year.
What is the average import price of special purpose vehicles per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.35 per kg in 2024, 10% below the world average of $7.07 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of special purpose vehicles to Botswana changed since 2017?
Imports went from $8.1 million in 2017 to $10.7 million in 2024, an increase of 33%. The peak was 2019 at $97.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $27.7 million a year.
Does Botswana also export special purpose vehicles?
Yes. Botswana exported $2.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. On balance Botswana is a net importer of this product, by about $8.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for special purpose vehicles?
The HS code for special purpose vehicles is heading 8705. In Botswana the largest six-digit codes were 8705.90 (58% of the value) and 8705.30 (21%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for Botswana reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World special purpose vehicles trade: top importers and exporters
Special purpose vehicles product types in Botswana
More trade data for Botswana
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