Storage media imports in Botswana: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Botswana imported storage media worth $3.7 million (66 tonnes). Value fell 28% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 6% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $8.7 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 | $3.7M | 66 t |
| 2023 | $5.2M | 84 t |
| 2022 | $7.0M | 132 t |
| 2021 | $8.6M | 194 t |
| 2020 | $4.8M | 129 t |
| 2019 | $7.7M | 139 t |
| 2018 | $8.7M | 200 t |
| 2017 | $5.9M | 268 t |
Where Botswana imports storage media from
One supplier dominates: South Africa accounted for 69% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $2.6M | 69% |
| China | $761K | 20% |
| India | $119K | 3.2% |
| France | $91K | 2.4% |
| United States | $57K | 1.5% |
| Hong Kong | $38K | 1% |
| Austria | $29K | 0.8% |
| Germany | $17K | 0.5% |
| United Kingdom | $10K | 0.3% |
| Netherlands | $7K | 0.2% |
Product types under HS 8523
| 8523.52 | Smart cards | 44% |
| 8523.51 | Solid-state storage devices | 18% |
| 8523.21 | Magnetic stripe cards | 13% |
| 8523.49 | Recorded optical discs | 10% |
| 8523.80 | Storage media (other) | 9.4% |
| 8523.59 | Semiconductor storage media (other) | 2.9% |
| 8523.29 | Magnetic tape media | 1.9% |
| 8523.41 | Blank optical discs | 0.7% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8523.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $56.68 per kg, 70% below the world average of $190.33, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in Botswana?
The shipment records behind Botswana storage media imports (HS 8523): 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 8523: Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, smart cards and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, excluding products of Chapter 37.
Common questions
What is the value of storage media imported by Botswana?
Botswana imported storage media worth $3.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 66 tonnes. That ranks it 133rd of 222 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 28% on 2023.
Which countries supply storage media to Botswana?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 69% of the value ($2.6 million), followed by China (20%) and India (3%). The top three together account for 93%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 145% on the year.
What is the average import price of storage media per kg?
The average declared import value was about $56.68 per kg in 2024, 70% below the world average of $190.33 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of storage media to Botswana changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.9 million in 2017 to $3.7 million in 2024, a fall of 37%. The peak was 2018 at $8.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for storage media?
The HS code for storage media is heading 8523. In Botswana the largest six-digit codes were 8523.52 (44% of the value) and 8523.51 (18%).
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.
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