Cheese imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of cheese by Kenya reached $2.2 million in 2024 (471 tonnes). Value rose 14% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 10% 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 | $2.2M | 471 t |
| 2023 | $1.9M | 315 t |
| 2022 | $1.7M | 340 t |
| 2021 | $1.3M | 229 t |
| 2020 | $1.2M | 243 t |
| 2019 | $1.6M | 266 t |
| 2018 | $1.6M | 264 t |
| 2017 | $1.1M | 166 t |
Where Kenya imports cheese from
The largest suppliers were Uganda (22%), Italy (15%), Denmark (13%). Among the main suppliers, Uganda grew fastest (+419% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $488K | 22% |
| Italy | $331K | 15% |
| Denmark | $294K | 14% |
| Egypt | $199K | 9.2% |
| France | $190K | 8.7% |
| Austria | $171K | 7.9% |
| South Africa | $154K | 7.1% |
| Ireland | $125K | 5.7% |
| Tunisia | $70K | 3.2% |
| Bahrain | $47K | 2.2% |
Product types under HS 0406
| 0406.30 | Processed cheese | 54% |
| 0406.90 | Hard aged cheese | 28% |
| 0406.10 | Fresh cheese | 13% |
| 0406.20 | Grated cheese | 5.2% |
| 0406.40 | Blue cheese | 0.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 0406.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.63 per kg, close to the world average of $5.48.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cheese exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported cheese worth $718 thousand (51 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Tanzania accounted for 54% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $386K | 54% |
| South Sudan | $147K | 21% |
| Rwanda | $81K | 11% |
| DR Congo | $78K | 11% |
| Somalia | $16K | 2.3% |
| Ethiopia | $3K | 0.5% |
| Maldives | $2K | 0.2% |
| Zambia | $1K | 0.2% |
| Singapore | $1K | 0.1% |
| Indonesia | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya cheese imports (HS 0406): 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 0406: Cheese and curd.
Common questions
What is the value of cheese imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported cheese worth $2.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 471 tonnes. That ranks it 160th of 223 countries worldwide. The value was up 14% on 2023.
Which countries supply cheese to Kenya?
Uganda was the largest supplier with 22% of the value ($488 thousand), followed by Italy (15%) and Denmark (13%). The top three together account for 51%, out of 23 supplier countries in total. Uganda grew fastest among the top ten, up 419% on the year.
What is the average import price of cheese per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.63 per kg in 2024, 16% below the world average of $5.48 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of cheese to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.1 million in 2017 to $2.2 million in 2024, an increase of 94%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $1.6 million a year.
Does Kenya also export cheese?
Yes. Kenya exported $718 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Tanzania, South Sudan and Rwanda. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $1.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for cheese?
The HS code for cheese is heading 0406. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 0406.30 (54% of the value) and 0406.90 (28%).
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
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.