A country situated on Africa’s east-central coast and on the Equator, the Republic of Kenya purchased a total US$21.7 billion worth of imported products in 2025.

That dollar amount reflects a 12.6% increase from $19.3 billion five years earlier in 2021.

From 2024 to 2025, the total cost for Kenyan imports rose by 7.5% compared to $20.2 billion at the start of the year-over-year period 2024.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2025, the Kenyan shilling depreciated by -3.8% against the US dollar from 2024 to 2025. Kenya’s weaker local currency makes its imports paid for in relatively stronger 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 74.2% of products imported into Kenya was shipped by exporters in: mainland China (23.9% of the Kenyan total), United Arab Emirates (11.5%), India (10.4%), Malaysia (5.1%), Japan (5%), United States of America (4.9%), Saudi Arabia (3.5%), South Africa (2.3%), Oman (2.2%), Germany (1.9%), Tanzania (1.8%) and Egypt (1.7%).

Applying a continental lens, over two-thirds (70.1%) of Kenya’s total imports by value was purchased from Asian countries. Trade partners located in Europe supplied 11.9% of import purchases by Kenya, while another 10% originated from fellow African nations.

Smaller percentages came from exporters in North America (5.7%), Latin America (1.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.9%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Kenya’s population of 53.4 million people, its total US$21.7 billion in 2025 imports translates to roughly $410 in yearly product demand from every person in the East African country. That dollar metric exceeds the average $385 per person one year earlier during 2024.

Domestically, Kenya’s inflation rate in terms of average consumer prices was 4.063% in 2025 down from 4.496% for the prior year.

Kenya’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Kenya’s import purchases during 2025. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Kenya.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$4.6 billion (21.2% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $2.2 billion (10.2%)
3. Vehicles: $1.43 billion (6.6%)
4. Electrical machinery, equipment: $1.27 billion (5.8%)
5. Cereals: $1.2 billion (5.5%)
6. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $1.12 billion (5.2%)
7. Iron, steel: $1.1 billion (5%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $959.8 million (4.4%)
9. Pharmaceuticals: $595.4 million (2.7%)
10. Other chemical goods: $500.5 million (2.3%)

Kenya’s top 10 imports accounted for more than two-thirds (69%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported machinery including computers posted the strongest growth among Kenya’s top 10 import categories, expanding by 39.4% from 2024 to 2025.

Other leading increases were for Kenyan import purchases of iron and steel (up 38.5%) then vehicles (up 18.9%) and animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes (up 14.7%).

Recording declines at the severest rates were imports of pharmaceuticals (down -15.6% from 2024) and mineral fuels including oil (down -3.4%).

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 (18.2% of Kenya’s imports), palm oil (4.8%), wheat (2.8%), products made from hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel (2.6%), cars (also 2.6%), rice (2%), medication mixes in dosage (1.9%), sugar (1.5%), petroleum gases (1.3%) then fertilizer mixes (1.1%).

Collectively, those 10 products attracted 38.9% of Kenya’s total spending on imported products.

Kenya’s Imports of Energy Products

In 2025, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels including oil.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$4 billion (down -4.3% from 2024)
2. Petroleum gases: $271.5 million (down -10.2%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $156 million (up 6.1%)
4. Electrical energy: $123.2 million (up 15.2%)
5. Petroleum oil residues: $50.5 million (up 95.3%)
6. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $18.1 million (down -13.8%)
7. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $13.2 million (up 27.3%)
8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $5.8 million (down -15.2%)
9. Peat: $2.2 million (up 28.9%)
10. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $559,000 (down -59.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of petroleum oil residues (up 95.3%), peat (up 28.9%) then asphalt or petroleum bitumen mixes (up 27.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

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 2025, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$177.5 million (up 27.4% from 2024)
2. Sort/screen/washing machinery: $164.1 million (up 185.1%)
3. Air or vacuum pumps: $143.3 million (up 166.3%)
4. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $106.4 million (up 54.9%)
5. Miscellaneous machinery: $100 million (up 68.4%)
6. Industrial preparation machinery: $90.4 million (up 50.9%)
7. Refrigerators, freezers: $87.8 million (up 20.3%)
8. Turbo-jets: $87.4 million (up 134.7%)
9. Auxiliary equipment for use with boilers: $87.2 million (up 23,160%)
10. Liquid pumps and elevators: $74.7 million (up 24.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of auxiliary equipment for use with boilers (up 23,160%), sorting, screening or washing machinery (up 185.1%) then air or vacuum pumps (up 166.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

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 Vehicles

In 2025, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$561.2 million (up 22.7% from 2024)
2. Trucks: $205 million (up 67.9%)
3. Tractors: $203.9 million (up 40.9%)
4. Automobile parts/accessories: $139.5 million (up 28.2%)
5. Motorcycles: $100.4 million (up 174.6%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $65.8 million (up 40.9%)
7. Armored vehicles, tanks: $42.8 million (down -78.8%)
8. Trailers: $40.6 million (up 32.9%)
9. Special purpose vehicles: $30.4 million (up 39.6%)
10. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $27.1 million (up 34.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of motorcycles (up 174.6%), trucks (up 67.9%) then tractors (up 40.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

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

Kenya’s Imports of Electrical Machinery and Equipment

In 2025, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following subcategories of electrical machinery and equipment.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$247.4 million (down -10.1% from 2024)
2. Electrical converters/power units: $100.8 million (up 11.5%)
3. Electric storage batteries: $93.1 million (up 35.4%)
4. Electric generating sets, converters: $92.4 million (up 119.9%)
5. Insulated wire/cable: $87.3 million (up 25.6%)
6. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $77.6 million (up 10.6%)
7. Printed circuits: $74.6 million (down -2.6%)
8. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $71.3 million (up 34.1%)
9. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $53.8 million (up 4.3%)
10. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $47.1 million (up 2.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of electric generating sets and converters (up 119.9%), electric storage batteries (up 35.4%) then electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 34.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electrical machinery and equipment 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 July 11, 2026

EXCHANGE-RATES.org Kenyan Shillan (KES) to US Dollar, Exchange Rate History. Accessed on July 11, 2026

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 11, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 11, 2026

Wikipedia, Kenya. Accessed on July 11, 2026