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flag Botswana Botswana: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Botswana, which is showing a big desire towards opening foreign trade and regional integration, is a member of various organizations: WTO, SACU (South African Customs Union) and SADC (Southern African Development Community), and has signed trade agreements with the European Union and the United States. It is one of the freest economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, foreign trade accounting for around 80% of the GDP.

From the mid-80s, the country has been recording an increasingly surplus. The global economic recession has a strong impact on the exports, thus reversing the trend and since 2009 the country presents a trade deficit.

The country’s main trade partners are the Southern African Customs Union, the European Union and China. Botswana mainly exports diamonds, copper, nickel, meat and textiles. It mainly imports foodstuffs, machines, electrical products, transport equipment, textile, petroleum products, wood, paper and metal products.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20062007200820092010
Imports of Goods (million USD) 3,0864,0675,2114,7285,657
Exports of Goods (million USD) 4,5295,1744,9513,4564,693
Imports of Services (million USD) 8341,0261,1211,040-
Exports of Services (million USD) 771836918842-
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -02616-95
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 310-2-281
Trade Balance (million USD) 1,9031,606328-754-
Current Account (million USD) 1,9381,796468-526-
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 7883837960
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 3135424532
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 4747423429

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization ; World Bank - Last Available Data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2010
United Kingdom 55.5%
South Africa 12.9%
Norway 9.3%
Israel 5.3%
Zimbabwe 3.8%
See More Countries 13.3%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2010
South Africa 72.8%
United Kingdom 9.3%
China 4.9%
Israel 1.9%
United States 1.3%
See More Countries 9.8%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2010
Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted...Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted or set (excl. unmounted stones for pick-up styluses, worked stones, suitable for use as parts of meters, measuring instruments or other articles of chapter 90) 68.4%
Nickel mattes, nickel oxide sinters and other...Nickel mattes, nickel oxide sinters and other intermediate products of nickel metallurgy : 10.9%
Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilledMeat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled 2.1%
Carbonates; peroxocarbonates "percarbonates";...Carbonates; peroxocarbonates "percarbonates"; commercial ammonium carbonate containing ammonium carbamate 1.5%
Nickel ores and concentratesNickel ores and concentrates 1.4%
See More Products 15.8%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2010
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 12.5%
Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted...Diamonds, whether or not worked, but not mounted or set (excl. unmounted stones for pick-up styluses, worked stones, suitable for use as parts of meters, measuring instruments or other articles of chapter 90) 11.7%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.2%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl....Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab 2.6%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured 1.6%
See More Products 68.4%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import export flows

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Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU)

Member of Southern African Development Committee (SADC)

Member of African Union

Member of Commonwealth of Nations

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
8.59%
 

List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs duties and local taxes

 
Useful Resources
The national customs website



National Organization of Intellectual Property
The Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property.
 

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Learn more about How to Export to Botswana on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Services.
 

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Last Updates: January 2012

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