A country situated on Africa’s east-central coast and on the Equator, the Republic of Kenya purchased a total US$20.2 billion worth of imported products in 2024.

That dollar amount reflects a 31.1% increase from $15.4 billion five years earlier in 2020.

From 2023 to 2024, the total cost for Kenyan imports rose by 8% compared to $18.7 billion at the start of the year-over-year period 2023.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the Kenyan shilling depreciated by -3.8% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. 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 72.8% of products imported into Kenya was shipped by exporters in: mainland China (21.3% of the Kenyan total), United Arab Emirates (12.5%), India (9.7%), United States of America (5.8%), Malaysia (5%), Japan (4%), Russia (2.9%), Oman (2.6%), South Africa (2.5%), Kuwait (2.4%), Tanzania (2.1%) and Saudi Arabia (1.9%).

Applying a continental lens, over two-thirds (67.4%) of Kenya’s total imports by value was purchased from Asian countries. Trade partners located in Europe supplied 14.4% of import purchases by Kenya, while another 10% originated from fellow African nations.

Smaller percentages came from exporters in North America (6.6%), Latin America (1.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Kenya’s population of 52.4 million people, its total $20.2 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $385 in yearly product demand from every person in the East African country. That dollar metric exceeds the average $365 per person one year earlier during 2023.

Kenya’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Kenya’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Kenya.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$4.8 billion (23.5% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $1.6 billion (7.9%)
3. Cereals: $1.23 billion (6.1%)
4. Vehicles: $1.2 billion (6%)
5. Electrical machinery, equipment: $1.13 billion (5.6%)
6. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $979.5 million (4.8%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $952.1 million (4.7%)
8. Iron, steel: $782.1 million (3.9%)
9. Pharmaceuticals: $705.2 million (3.5%)
10. Other chemical goods: $506.6 million (2.5%)

Kenya’s top 10 imports accounted for more than two-thirds (68.4%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported vehicles posted the strongest growth among Kenya’s top 10 import categories, swelling by 36.8% from 2023 to 2024.

Other leading increases were for Kenyan import purchases of miscellaneous chemical goods (up 30.3%) then electrical machinery and equipment (up 24.3%).

Recording declines were imports of the metals iron and steel (down -7.8% from 2023), cereals (down -4.3%) notably pulled down by wheat, and mineral fuels including oil (down -2.4%).

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 (20.5% of Kenya’s imports), palm oil (4.5%), wheat (3.2%), medication mixes in dosage (2.6%), rice (2.5%), products made from hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel (2.3%), cars (also 2.3%), petroleum gases (1.5%), phone devices including smartphones (1.4%), then aircraft and spacecraft (1.2%).

Collectively, those 10 products attracted 41.9% of Kenya’s total spending on imported products.

Kenya’s Imports of Energy Products

In 2024, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels including oil.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$4.1 billion (down -5.1% from 2023)
2. Petroleum gases: $302.2 million (up 25.4%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $147.1 million (up 14.1%)
4. Electrical energy: $106.9 million (up 46.4%)
5. Petroleum oil residues: $25.9 million (down -6.8%)
6. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $21 million (up 28.2%)
7. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $10.4 million (down -58.4%)
8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $6.8 million (up 24.7%)
9. Peat: $1.7 million (up 53.3%)
10. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $1.4 million (up 9.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of peat (up 53.3%), electrical energy (up 46.4%) then petroleum jelly and mineral waxes (up 28.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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 2024, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$139.4 million (up 1.6% from 2023)
2. Temperature-change machines: $91.4 million (up 125.7%)
3. Derricks, cranes: $81.8 million (up 39.8%)
4. Refrigerators, freezers: $73 million (up 18.1%)
5. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $68.7 million (up 40.3%)
6. Liquid pumps and elevators: $60.1 million (up 10.2%)
7. Industrial preparation machinery: $59.9 million (up 11.6%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $59.3 million (up 17.3%)
9. Sort/screen/washing machinery: $57.6 million (up 3.9%)
10. Piston engines: $56.1 million (up 37.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of temperature-change machines (up 125.7%), heavy machinery such as bulldozers, excavators or road rollers (up 40.3%) then derricks and cranes (up 39.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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 2024, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.

1. Wheat: US$636.8 million (down -5.1% from 2023)
2. Rice: $504.8 million (up 28.6%)
3. Corn: $73.2 million (down -55.6%)
4. Sorghum grain: $6.4 million (down -85.9%)
5. Buckwheat, millet, canary seeds: $4.3 million (down -41.6%)
6. Barley: $4,000 (down -33.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of rice (up 28.6%) generated the sole increase from 2023 to 2024.

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 Vehicles

In 2024, Kenyan importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$457.3 million (up 19.9% from 2023)
2. Armored vehicles, tanks: $202.4 million (2023 data unavailable)
3. Tractors: $144.7 million (up 16.2%)
4. Trucks: $122.1 million (down -11.9%)
5. Automobile parts/accessories: $108.9 million (up 14.3%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $46.7 million (up 70%)
7. Motorcycles: $36.6 million (down -21%)
8. Trailers: $30.5 million (up 43.6%)
9. Special purpose vehicles: $21.8 million (up 72.1%)
10. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $20.1 million (up 21.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Kenyan purchases of special purpose vehicles (up 72.1%), public-transport vehicles (up 70%) then trailers (up 43.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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.
 

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, 2025

EXCHANGE-RATES.org Kenyan Shillan (KES) to US Dollar, Exchange Rate History. Accessed on July 11, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 11, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 11, 2025

Wikipedia, Kenya. Accessed on July 11, 2025