Botswana imports hit P11 bn

Botswana’s total imports were valued at P11, 805.2 million in September, an increase of 66.8 percent from the revised August

2022 value of P7, 077.3 million.

According to Statistics Botswana, total exports during the same month, amounted to P8, 819.0 million,

reflecting a decline of 19.1 percent from the revised August 2022 value of P10, 903.1 million. As usual, the leading import commodity groups were diamonds with 48.2 percent, followed by fuel with a 12.4 percent contribution to total imports during the reporting period. Machinery & Electrical Equipment and food, beverages & tobacco followed with contributions of 8.8 percent and 8.6 percent to total imports respectively.

Diamonds, copper and machinery & electrical equipment contributed 87.9 percent, 3.3 percent and 3.0 percent to total exports respectively, during the reference month. In September 2022, imports from SACU made a contribution of 85.4 percent, whilst those from Asia and the EU accounted for 5.6 percent and 2.5 percent of total imports respectively. Imports from South Africa accounted for 69.2 percent of total imports. Namibia, Canada and China provided imports representing 15.8 percent, 3.6 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.

Exports destined to Asia, SACU and the EU accounted for 67.2 percent, 15.7 percent and 12.3 percent of the total exports, respectively, during the month under review. The UAE, India, and Belgium received exports representing 31.6 percent, 13.2 percent and 12.3 percent of the monthly total, respectively. South Africa received exports accounting for 12.0 percent of the monthly