Electric motor imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of electric motor by Kenya reached $31.6 million in 2024 (3.4 thousand tonnes). Value fell 20% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $77.4 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 | $31.6M | 3.4K t |
| 2023 | $39.5M | 3.2K t |
| 2022 | $26.3M | 3.8K t |
| 2021 | $38.4M | 2.6K t |
| 2020 | $60.6M | 12.0K t |
| 2019 | $77.4M | 15.7K t |
| 2018 | $19.5M | 1.6K t |
| 2017 | $20.4M | 1.3K t |
Where Kenya imports electric motor from
The largest suppliers were China (35%), India (20%), United States (15%). Among the main suppliers, Germany grew fastest (+140% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $11.0M | 35% |
| India | $6.2M | 20% |
| United States | $4.8M | 15% |
| Germany | $2.7M | 8.7% |
| United Kingdom | $1.4M | 4.6% |
| Italy | $896K | 2.8% |
| Singapore | $761K | 2.4% |
| South Africa | $702K | 2.2% |
| Taiwan | $700K | 2.2% |
| Japan | $500K | 1.6% |
Product types under HS 8501
| 8501.52 | Three-phase AC motors to 75kw | 18% |
| 8501.40 | Single phase AC motors | 12% |
| 8501.20 | Universal AC/DC motors | 12% |
| 8501.64 | High capacity AC alternators | 10% |
| 8501.62 | AC alternators 75-375kva | 10% |
| 8501.53 | High power three-phase motors | 9.4% |
| 8501.31 | DC motors up to 750w | 8.9% |
| 8501.10 | Low power electric motors | 4.6% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8501.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $9.34 per kg, 30% below the world average of $13.41, 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.
Electric motor exports from Kenya
Exports of electric motor by Kenya reached $3.3 million in 2024 (932 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Uganda accounted for 62% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Mozambique grew fastest (+304% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $2.1M | 62% |
| Tanzania | $293K | 8.8% |
| Nigeria | $201K | 6% |
| Rwanda | $172K | 5.2% |
| Zambia | $144K | 4.3% |
| Mozambique | $133K | 4% |
| Burundi | $63K | 1.9% |
| South Sudan | $42K | 1.3% |
| DR Congo | $28K | 0.8% |
| Ethiopia | $27K | 0.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya electric motor imports (HS 8501): 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 8501: Electric motors and generators (excluding generating sets).
Common questions
What is the value of electric motor imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported electric motor worth $31.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 88th of 226 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 20% on 2023.
Which countries supply electric motor to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($11.0 million), followed by India (20%) and the United States (15%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 63 supplier countries in total. Japan grew fastest among the top ten, up 186% on the year.
What is the average import price of electric motor per kg?
The average declared import value was about $9.34 per kg in 2024, 30% below the world average of $13.41 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of electric motor to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $20.4 million in 2017 to $31.6 million in 2024, an increase of 55%. The peak was 2019 at $77.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $39.2 million a year.
Does Kenya also export electric motor?
Yes. Kenya exported $3.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $28.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for electric motor?
The HS code for electric motor is heading 8501. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8501.52 (18% of the value) and 8501.40 (12%).
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
Electric motor product types in Kenya
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