Caustic soda imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $31.5 million of caustic soda in 2024 (79.9 thousand tonnes). Value rose 14% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 12% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31.5M | 79.9K t |
| 2023 | $27.7M | 74.5K t |
| 2022 | $37.1M | 68.1K t |
| 2021 | $19.8M | 54.6K t |
| 2020 | $19.2M | 72.2K t |
| 2019 | $23.7M | 62.7K t |
| 2018 | $18.9M | 32.0K t |
| 2017 | $13.9M | 22.2K t |
Where Kenya imports caustic soda from
One supplier dominates: India accounted for 66% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Singapore grew fastest (+188% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $20.7M | 66% |
| Qatar | $5.2M | 17% |
| Singapore | $3.2M | 10% |
| China | $1.3M | 4.2% |
| Saudi Arabia | $297K | 0.9% |
| South Korea | $203K | 0.6% |
| United Arab Emirates | $185K | 0.6% |
| United Kingdom | $115K | 0.4% |
| United States | $72K | 0.2% |
| France | $63K | 0.2% |
Product types under HS 2815
| 2815.12 | Sodium hydroxide solution | 64% |
| 2815.11 | Sodium hydroxide solid | 35% |
| 2815.20 | Potassium hydroxide | 1.4% |
| 2815.30 | Peroxides of sodium or potassium | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2815.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.39 per kg, close to the world average of $0.34.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Caustic soda exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $817 thousand of caustic soda in 2024 (1.0 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Uganda (39%), DR Congo (30%), United States (8%). Among the main buyer markets, United States grew fastest (+156% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $319K | 39% |
| DR Congo | $248K | 30% |
| United States | $64K | 7.8% |
| Rwanda | $55K | 6.7% |
| Tanzania | $48K | 5.9% |
| Republic of the Congo | $42K | 5.2% |
| Burundi | $21K | 2.6% |
| South Sudan | $12K | 1.5% |
| Somalia | $4K | 0.4% |
| Zambia | $3K | 0.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya caustic soda imports (HS 2815): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 2815: Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda); potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) peroxides of sodium or potassium.
Common questions
What is the value of caustic soda imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported caustic soda worth $31.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 79.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 43rd of 216 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 14% on 2023.
Which countries supply caustic soda to Kenya?
India was the largest supplier with 66% of the value ($20.7 million), followed by Qatar (17%) and Singapore (10%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 21 supplier countries in total. The United Arab Emirates grew fastest among the top ten, up 290% on the year.
What is the average import price of caustic soda per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.39 per kg in 2024, 15% above the world average of $0.34 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of caustic soda to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $13.9 million in 2017 to $31.5 million in 2024, an increase of 127%. The peak was 2022 at $37.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $24.0 million a year.
Does Kenya also export caustic soda?
Yes. Kenya exported $817 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, the DR Congo and the United States. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $30.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for caustic soda?
The HS code for caustic soda is heading 2815. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 2815.12 (64% of the value) and 2815.11 (35%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Kenya, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
Caustic soda product types in Kenya
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