Diesel engine imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported diesel engine worth $11.1 million (4.8 thousand tonnes). Value rose 19% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2021, at $24.3 million.
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 | $11.1M | 4.8K t |
| 2023 | $9.4M | 4.2K t |
| 2022 | $11.4M | 5.4K t |
| 2021 | $24.3M | 1.6K t |
| 2020 | $11.4M | 7.4K t |
| 2019 | $12.3M | 2.5K t |
| 2018 | $10.3M | 3.8K t |
| 2017 | $6.5M | 522 t |
Where Kenya imports diesel engine from
The largest suppliers were China (36%), Japan (28%), India (13%). Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest (+396% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $4.0M | 36% |
| Japan | $3.1M | 28% |
| India | $1.4M | 13% |
| Malaysia | $737K | 6.6% |
| Germany | $572K | 5.1% |
| United States | $378K | 3.4% |
| Thailand | $331K | 3% |
| United Kingdom | $266K | 2.4% |
| Italy | $88K | 0.8% |
| South Africa | $67K | 0.6% |
Product types under HS 8408
| 8408.90 | Industrial diesel engines | 51% |
| 8408.20 | Vehicle diesel engines | 43% |
| 8408.10 | Marine diesel engines | 6.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8408.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.33 per kg, 85% below the world average of $15.07, 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.
Diesel engine exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported diesel engine worth $494 thousand (25 tonnes). Most of it went to Tanzania (38%), Mozambique (26%), Malaysia (22%). Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest (+691% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $188K | 38% |
| Mozambique | $130K | 26% |
| Malaysia | $110K | 22% |
| Uganda | $28K | 5.6% |
| Burundi | $15K | 3% |
| Rwanda | $13K | 2.5% |
| Singapore | $8K | 1.6% |
| Zambia | $1K | 0.2% |
| DR Congo | $1K | 0.2% |
| South Sudan | $0K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya diesel engine imports (HS 8408): 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 8408: Compression-ignition internal combustion piston engines (diesel or semi-diesel engines).
Common questions
What is the value of diesel engine imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported diesel engine worth $11.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 4.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 96th of 216 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 19% on 2023.
Which countries supply diesel engine to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 36% of the value ($4.0 million), followed by Japan (28%) and India (13%). The top three together account for 76%, out of 23 supplier countries in total. The United States grew fastest among the top ten, up 396% on the year.
What is the average import price of diesel engine per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.33 per kg in 2024, 85% below the world average of $15.07 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of diesel engine to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $6.5 million in 2017 to $11.1 million in 2024, an increase of 72%. The peak was 2021 at $24.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $12.1 million a year.
Does Kenya also export diesel engine?
Yes. Kenya exported $494 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Tanzania, Mozambique and Malaysia. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $10.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for diesel engine?
The HS code for diesel engine is heading 8408. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8408.90 (51% of the value) and 8408.20 (42%).
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
Diesel engine product types in Kenya
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.