Cars imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported cars worth $492.6 million (41.9 thousand tonnes). That is 12% 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 | $492.6M | 41.9K t |
| 2023 | $439.2M | 53.6K t |
| 2022 | $469.5M | 55.5K t |
| 2021 | $525.9M | 35.1K t |
| 2020 | $463.6M | 34.0K t |
| 2019 | $565.6M | 48.8K t |
| 2018 | $561.0M | 46.3K t |
| 2017 | $469.8M | 38.5K t |
Where Kenya imports cars from
One supplier dominates: Japan accounted for 74% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $366.4M | 74% |
| United Kingdom | $29.7M | 6% |
| South Africa | $22.0M | 4.5% |
| Germany | $15.0M | 3.1% |
| Thailand | $8.8M | 1.8% |
| India | $8.1M | 1.7% |
| Australia | $7.5M | 1.5% |
| Uganda | $7.1M | 1.4% |
| China | $4.2M | 0.9% |
| United States | $3.2M | 0.7% |
Product types under HS 8703
| 8703.23 | Petrol cars 1500-3000cc | 35% |
| 8703.33 | Diesel cars >2500cc | 21% |
| 8703.22 | Petrol cars 1000-1500cc | 17% |
| 8703.24 | Petrol cars >3000cc | 7.6% |
| 8703.32 | Diesel cars 1500-2500cc | 7.1% |
| 8703.21 | Petrol cars <1000cc | 3.9% |
| 8703.40 | Hybrid petrol-electric cars | 3.5% |
| 8703.90 | Cars (other power types) | 2.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8703.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $11.77 per kg, 27% below the world average of $16.22, 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.
Cars exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported cars worth $8.4 million (529 tonnes). Most of it went to Uganda (35%), Tanzania (27%), Burundi (9%). Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest (+215% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $2.9M | 35% |
| Tanzania | $2.3M | 27% |
| Burundi | $781K | 9.3% |
| Zambia | $669K | 8% |
| Zimbabwe | $493K | 5.9% |
| United Kingdom | $183K | 2.2% |
| Somalia | $158K | 1.9% |
| South Africa | $124K | 1.5% |
| Mozambique | $108K | 1.3% |
| Thailand | $98K | 1.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya cars imports (HS 8703): 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 8703: Motor cars and other motor vehicles; principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading no. 8702), including station wagons and racing cars.
Common questions
What is the value of cars imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported cars worth $492.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 41.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 93rd of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 12% on 2023.
Which countries supply cars to Kenya?
Japan was the largest supplier with 74% of the value ($366.4 million), followed by the United Kingdom (6%) and South Africa (4%). The top three together account for 85%, out of 52 supplier countries in total. Uganda grew fastest among the top ten, up 477% on the year.
What is the average import price of cars per kg?
The average declared import value was about $11.77 per kg in 2024, 27% below the world average of $16.22 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of cars to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $469.8 million in 2017 to $492.6 million in 2024, an increase of 5%. The peak was 2019 at $565.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $498.4 million a year.
Does Kenya also export cars?
Yes. Kenya exported $8.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $484.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for cars?
The HS code for cars is heading 8703. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8703.23 (35% of the value) and 8703.33 (21%).
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
Cars product types in Kenya
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