Alcohol imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $19.9 million of alcohol in 2024 (19.6 thousand tonnes). That is 25% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 16% a year on average.
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 | $19.9M | 19.6K t |
| 2023 | $15.8M | 17.1K t |
| 2022 | $20.2M | 15.6K t |
| 2021 | $19.7M | 17.3K t |
| 2020 | $14.8M | 17.5K t |
| 2019 | $12.4M | 14.8K t |
| 2018 | $12.5M | 13.3K t |
| 2017 | $6.9M | 8.2K t |
Where Kenya imports alcohol from
The largest suppliers were China (21%), India (15%), Indonesia (13%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 50%. Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $4.2M | 21% |
| India | $3.0M | 15% |
| Indonesia | $2.6M | 13% |
| South Africa | $2.5M | 13% |
| United States | $1.9M | 9.4% |
| Saudi Arabia | $1.5M | 7.3% |
| Thailand | $1.1M | 5.7% |
| Malaysia | $535K | 2.7% |
| Brazil | $411K | 2.1% |
| Oman | $337K | 1.7% |
Product types under HS 2905
| 2905.45 | Glycerol (HS 2905.45) | 26% |
| 2905.11 | Methanol | 25% |
| 2905.12 | Propanol | 20% |
| 2905.32 | Propylene glycol | 9.7% |
| 2905.44 | Pure sorbitol | 5.1% |
| 2905.42 | Pentaerythritol | 3.5% |
| 2905.43 | Mannitol | 2.2% |
| 2905.31 | Ethylene glycol | 1.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2905.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.01 per kg, 80% above the world average of $0.56. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Alcohol exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported alcohol worth $833 thousand (1.1 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to DR Congo (39%), Rwanda (24%), Germany (11%). Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest (+482% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $324K | 39% |
| Rwanda | $202K | 24% |
| Germany | $91K | 11% |
| Tanzania | $69K | 8.3% |
| Uganda | $52K | 6.3% |
| Malawi | $28K | 3.4% |
| Zambia | $20K | 2.4% |
| Nigeria | $14K | 1.7% |
| South Sudan | $14K | 1.6% |
| Burundi | $11K | 1.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya alcohol imports (HS 2905): 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 2905: Acyclic alcohols and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives.
Common questions
What is the value of alcohol imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported alcohol worth $19.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 19.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 66th of 211 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 25% on 2023.
Which countries supply alcohol to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 21% of the value ($4.2 million), followed by India (15%) and Indonesia (13%). The top three together account for 50%, out of 37 supplier countries in total. Saudi Arabia grew fastest among the top ten, up 501% on the year.
What is the average import price of alcohol per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.01 per kg in 2024, 80% above the world average of $0.56 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of alcohol to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $6.9 million in 2017 to $19.9 million in 2024, an increase of 188%. The peak was 2022 at $20.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $15.3 million a year.
Does Kenya also export alcohol?
Yes. Kenya exported $833 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Rwanda and Germany. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $19.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for alcohol?
The HS code for alcohol is heading 2905. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 2905.45 (26% of the value) and 2905.11 (25%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for Kenya 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
Alcohol product types in Kenya
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