A country situated on Africa’s east-central coast and on the Equator, the Republic of Kenya purchased a total US$18.7 billion worth of imported products in 2023.

That dollar amount reflects an 8.6% increase from $17.2 billion five years earlier in 2019.

From 2022 to 2023, the total cost for Kenyan imports fell -11.5% compared to $21.1 billion at the start of the year-over-year period 2022.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, the Kenyan shilling depreciated by -37.1% against the US dollar since 2019 and diluted by -18.6% from 2022 to 2023. Kenya’s weaker local currency makes its imports paid for in inflated US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from Kenyan shillings.

Kenya’s Largest Suppliers for Imported Products

The latest available country-specific data shows that 73.3% of products imported into Kenya was shipped by exporters in: mainland China (17.5% of the Kenyan total), United Arab Emirates (15.8%), India (10.3%), Saudi Arabia (5.6%), Malaysia (4.6%), United States of America (4.3%), Japan (3.7%), Russia (3.2%), South Africa (2.9%), Egypt (1.9%), Netherlands (1.7%) and Tanzania (1.6%).

Applying a continental lens, over two-thirds (68.1%) of Kenya’s total imports by value was purchased from Asian countries. Trade partners located in Europe supplied 14.2% of import purchases by Kenya, while another 10.5% originated from fellow African nations.

Smaller percentages came from exporters in North America (5.2%), Latin America (1.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Kenya’s population of 51.5 million people, its total $18.7 billion in 2023 imports translates to roughly $365 in yearly product demand from every person in the East African country. That dollar metric lags the average $415 per person one year earlier during 2022.

Kenya’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Kenya’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Kenya.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$4.9 billion (26.1% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $1.3 billion (6.9%)
3. Cereals: $1.3 billion (6.8%)
4. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $958.1 million (5.1%)
5. Electrical machinery, equipment: $906.2 million (4.8%)
6. Vehicles: $879.5 million (4.7%)
7. Iron, steel: $848.5 million (4.5%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $807.9 million (4.3%)
9. Pharmaceuticals: $616.3 million (3.3%)
10. Fertilizers: $453.9 million (2.4%)

Kenya’s top 10 imports accounted for more than two-thirds (69.1%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported fertilizers posted the strongest growth among Kenya’s top 10 import categories, up 8.1% from 2022 to 2023.

The other increase was Kenyan import purchases of cereal (up 6.4%) propelled by higher spending on rice and wheat.

Recording the severest declines were imports of the metals iron and steel (down -31.5% from 2022), pharmaceuticals (down -18.9%) and animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes (down -17.1%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level.

Information presented below is at the more granular 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level.

Applying the more detailed code perspective, Kenya’s top 10 imported products were processed petroleum oils (23.3% of Kenya’s imports), palm oil (4.5%), wheat (3.6%), medication mixes in dosage (2.4%), products made from hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel (also 2.4%), rice (2.1%), sugar (also 2.1%), cars (2%), fertilizer mixes (1.5%) then petroleum gases (1.3%).

Collectively, those 10 products attracted 45.2% of Kenya’s total spending on imported products.

Kenya’s Imports of Energy Products

In 2023, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels including oil.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$4.4 billion (down -14.1% from 2022)
2. Petroleum gases: $240.9 million (down -2.8%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $128.9 million (down -6.7%)
4. Electrical energy: $73 million (up 126.7%)
5. Petroleum oil residues: $27.8 million (down -42.7%)
6. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $24.9 million (up 31.1%)
7. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $16.4 million (down -10.6%)
8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $5.5 million (down -11.2%)
9. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $1.3 million (down -78.8%)
10. Peat: $1.1 million (down -28%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of electrical energy (up 126.7%) and asphalt or petroleum bitumen mixes (up 31.1%) grew from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels including oil among businesses and consumers in Kenya.

Kenya’s Imports of Machinery Products

In 2023, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$137.1 million (down -1.1% from 2022)
2. Refrigerators, freezers: $61.8 million (up 23.6%)
3. Printing machinery: $59.1 million (up 43.7%)
4. Derricks, cranes: $58.5 million (up 30%)
5. Sort/screen/washing machinery: $55.4 million (down -40.6%)
6. Liquid pumps and elevators: $54.5 million (down -16.7%)
7. Industrial preparation machinery: $53.7 million (up 19.8%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $50.6 million (down -54.1%)
9. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $49 million (down -38%)
10. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $47.5 million (down -11.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of printing machinery (up 43.7%), derricks and cranes (up 30%) then refrigerators or freezers (up 23.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among businesses and consumers in Kenya.

Kenya’s Imports of Cereals

In 2023, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.

1. Wheat: US$670.9 million (up 1.6% from 2022)
2. Rice: $392.4 million (up 34.9%)
3. Corn: $164.9 million (down -20.6%)
4. Sorghum grain: $45.5 million (up 18%)
5. Buckwheat, millet, canary seeds: $7.3 million (up 20.7%)
6. Oats: $15,000 (2022 data unavailable)
7. Barley: $6,000 (up 100%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of barley (up 100%), rice (up 34.9%) then buckwheat, millet and canary seeds (up 20.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported cereals among Kenyan businesses and consumers.

Kenya’s Imports of Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils

In 2023, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes.

1. Palm oil: US$838.9 million (down -22.6% from 2022)
2. Soya-bean oil: $34.4 million (up 451.5%)
3. Boiled, oxidized, dehydrated or sulphurized fats and oils: $24.3 million (up 6,977%)
4. Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil: $17.5 million (up 33%)
5. Coconut/palm/babassu oil: $15.9 million (down -5.9%)
6. Fixed vegetable fats/oils: $8.1 million (up 10.5%)
7. Animal/vegetable hydrogenated fats, oils: $7.6 million (down -25.5%)
8. Rape/colza/mustard oil: $4 million (down -28%)
9. Olive oil: $3.4 million (up 12.8%)
10. Margarine: $2.1 million (down -74%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of Boiled, oxidized, dehydrated or sulphurized fats and oils (up 6,977%), soya-bean oil (up 451.5%) then sunflower, safflower or cotton-seed oil (up 33%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes among Kenyan businesses and consumers.
 

See also Kenya’s Top 10 Exports, Refined Oil Exports by Country, Drugs and Medicines Exports by Country, Wheat Exports by Country and Car Exports by Country Plus Average Prices per Car

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Africa: Kenya. Accessed on September 2, 2024

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on September 2, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 2, 2024

Wikipedia, Kenya. Accessed on September 2, 2024