Buttons imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of buttons by Kenya reached $4.5 million in 2024 (349 tonnes). That is 21% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $4.5M | 349 t |
| 2023 | $3.7M | 284 t |
| 2022 | $4.4M | 307 t |
| 2021 | $4.0M | 283 t |
| 2020 | $2.4M | 210 t |
| 2019 | $3.6M | 310 t |
| 2018 | $3.4M | 312 t |
| 2017 | $2.9M | 262 t |
Where Kenya imports buttons from
Most of the value came from China (48%), United States (19%), Hong Kong (16%). Among the main suppliers, Taiwan grew fastest (+72% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.2M | 48% |
| United States | $843K | 19% |
| Hong Kong | $729K | 16% |
| Bangladesh | $227K | 5% |
| Taiwan | $128K | 2.8% |
| India | $114K | 2.5% |
| Turkey | $87K | 1.9% |
| Egypt | $81K | 1.8% |
| Singapore | $60K | 1.3% |
| Vietnam | $25K | 0.6% |
Product types under HS 9606
| 9606.21 | Plastic button | 45% |
| 9606.22 | Metal button | 31% |
| 9606.10 | Snap fastener | 13% |
| 9606.29 | Button | 9.1% |
| 9606.30 | Button blank | 2.5% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 9606.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $12.93 per kg, close to the world average of $16.12.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Buttons exports from Kenya
Exports of buttons by Kenya reached $256 thousand in 2024 (10 tonnes). Zimbabwe alone took 98% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $250K | 98% |
| Uganda | $2K | 0.9% |
| Ethiopia | $2K | 0.6% |
| Rwanda | $1K | 0.2% |
| South Sudan | $1K | 0.2% |
| Tanzania | $1K | 0.2% |
| India | $1K | 0.2% |
| Sri Lanka | $0K | 0.1% |
| Burundi | $0K | 0.1% |
| Malawi | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya buttons imports (HS 9606): 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 9606: Buttons, press-fasteners, snap-fasteners and press-studs, button moulds and other parts of these articles; button blanks.
Common questions
What is the value of buttons imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported buttons worth $4.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 349 tonnes. That ranks it 50th of 209 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 21% on 2023.
Which countries supply buttons to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 48% of the value ($2.2 million), followed by the United States (19%) and Hong Kong (16%). The top three together account for 83%, out of 29 supplier countries in total. Taiwan grew fastest among the top ten, up 72% on the year.
What is the average import price of buttons per kg?
The average declared import value was about $12.93 per kg in 2024, 20% below the world average of $16.12 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of buttons to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.9 million in 2017 to $4.5 million in 2024, an increase of 58%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $3.6 million a year.
Does Kenya also export buttons?
Yes. Kenya exported $256 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Zimbabwe, Uganda and Ethiopia. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $4.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for buttons?
The HS code for buttons is heading 9606. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 9606.21 (45% of the value) and 9606.22 (31%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Kenya. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
Buttons product types in Kenya
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