Heavy cotton fabric imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of heavy cotton fabric by Kenya reached $29.0 million in 2024 (3.9 thousand tonnes). Value rose 21% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $47.3 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 | $29.0M | 3.9K t |
| 2023 | $24.0M | 3.4K t |
| 2022 | $47.3M | 5.2K t |
| 2021 | $38.8M | 5.6K t |
| 2020 | $24.0M | 3.3K t |
| 2019 | $38.0M | 5.6K t |
| 2018 | $30.1M | 4.8K t |
| 2017 | $27.0M | 4.4K t |
Where Kenya imports heavy cotton fabric from
The largest suppliers were Pakistan (33%), China (26%), Tanzania (18%). Among the main suppliers, Bangladesh grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | $9.6M | 33% |
| China | $7.5M | 26% |
| Tanzania | $5.2M | 18% |
| India | $5.0M | 17% |
| Bangladesh | $885K | 3.1% |
| Sri Lanka | $210K | 0.7% |
| Egypt | $110K | 0.4% |
| Thailand | $109K | 0.4% |
| Ethiopia | $100K | 0.3% |
| South Africa | $87K | 0.3% |
Product types under HS 5209
| 5209.42 | Denim | 40% |
| 5209.19 | Unbleached heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 26% |
| 5209.31 | Dyed heavy plain cotton fabric | 17% |
| 5209.39 | Dyed heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 6.6% |
| 5209.32 | Dyed heavy twill cotton fabric | 6.2% |
| 5209.11 | Unbleached heavy plain cotton fabric | 2.2% |
| 5209.29 | Bleached heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 0.8% |
| 5209.49 | Multi-colour heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 0.4% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5209.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $7.38 per kg, close to the world average of $6.83.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Heavy cotton fabric exports from Kenya
Exports of heavy cotton fabric by Kenya reached $942 thousand in 2024 (141 tonnes). United States alone took 91% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $854K | 91% |
| South Africa | $38K | 4% |
| United Arab Emirates | $21K | 2.2% |
| Tanzania | $8K | 0.8% |
| India | $7K | 0.8% |
| Portugal | $5K | 0.5% |
| DR Congo | $3K | 0.3% |
| Uganda | $2K | 0.3% |
| France | $2K | 0.2% |
| Ireland | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya heavy cotton fabric imports (HS 5209): 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 5209: Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing more than 200g/m2.
Common questions
What is the value of heavy cotton fabric imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported heavy cotton fabric worth $29.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 35th of 211 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 21% on 2023.
Which countries supply heavy cotton fabric to Kenya?
Pakistan was the largest supplier with 33% of the value ($9.6 million), followed by China (26%) and Tanzania (18%). The top three together account for 77%, out of 25 supplier countries in total. Pakistan grew fastest among the top ten, up 342% on the year.
What is the average import price of heavy cotton fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $7.38 per kg in 2024, 8% above the world average of $6.83 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of heavy cotton fabric to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $27.0 million in 2017 to $29.0 million in 2024, an increase of 7%. The peak was 2022 at $47.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $32.3 million a year.
Does Kenya also export heavy cotton fabric?
Yes. Kenya exported $942 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the United States, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $28.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for heavy cotton fabric?
The HS code for heavy cotton fabric is heading 5209. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 5209.42 (40% of the value) and 5209.19 (26%).
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
World heavy cotton fabric trade: top importers and exporters
Heavy cotton fabric product types in Kenya
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