Pens imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Ethiopia imported pens worth $4.3 million (592 tonnes). Value fell 68% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 11% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $13.2 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4.3M | 592 t |
| 2023 | $13.2M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $11.3M | 1.4K t |
| 2021 | $8.4M | 725 t |
| 2020 | $7.0M | 1.0K t |
| 2019 | $12.2M | 1.4K t |
| 2018 | $1.8M | 487 t |
| 2017 | $2.1M | 67 t |
Where Ethiopia imports pens from
One supplier dominates: Kenya accounted for 63% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $2.7M | 63% |
| China | $1.1M | 27% |
| India | $359K | 8.4% |
| Germany | $41K | 1% |
| Italy | $7K | 0.2% |
| Lebanon | $4K | 0.1% |
| Austria | $4K | 0.1% |
| Sri Lanka | $3K | 0.1% |
| United States | $3K | 0.1% |
| Indonesia | $3K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 9608
| 9608.10 | Ballpoint pen | 90% |
| 9608.20 | Marker | 7.3% |
| 9608.99 | Pen holder | 1.2% |
| 9608.60 | Pen refill | 0.6% |
| 9608.30 | Fountain pen | 0.6% |
| 9608.40 | Mechanical pencil | 0.2% |
| 9608.50 | Pen set | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 9608.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $7.20 per kg, 46% below the world average of $13.28, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in Ethiopia?
The shipment records behind Ethiopia pens imports (HS 9608): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 9608: Pens; ball-point, felt tipped, other porous tipped pens; fountain pens, stylograph pens duplicating stylos, propelling or sliding pencils; parts of the foregoing, excluding those of heading no. 9609.
Common questions
What is the value of pens imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported pens worth $4.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 592 tonnes. That ranks it 108th of 223 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 68% on 2023.
Which countries supply pens to Ethiopia?
Kenya was the largest supplier with 63% of the value ($2.7 million), followed by China (27%) and India (8%). The top three together account for 98%, out of 21 supplier countries in total. Indonesia grew fastest among the top ten, up 76% on the year.
What is the average import price of pens per kg?
The average declared import value was about $7.20 per kg in 2024, 46% below the world average of $13.28 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of pens to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.1 million in 2017 to $4.3 million in 2024, an increase of 102%. The peak was 2023 at $13.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $7.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for pens?
The HS code for pens is heading 9608. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 9608.10 (90% of the value) and 9608.20 (7%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for Ethiopia reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
Pens product types in Ethiopia
More trade data for Ethiopia
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