High-density polyethylene imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $110.6 million of high-density polyethylene in 2024 (101.0 thousand tonnes). That is 8% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 25% 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 | $110.6M | 101.0K t |
| 2023 | $101.9M | 90.6K t |
| 2022 | $112.3M | 84.9K t |
| 2021 | $127.9M | 95.4K t |
| 2020 | $87.4M | 92.7K t |
| 2019 | $86.3M | 76.0K t |
| 2018 | $50.5M | 38.6K t |
| 2017 | $23.7M | 20.5K t |
Where Kenya imports high-density polyethylene from
Most of the value came from Saudi Arabia (44%), United Arab Emirates (16%), United States (11%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+52% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | $48.2M | 44% |
| United Arab Emirates | $17.9M | 16% |
| United States | $11.8M | 11% |
| Qatar | $9.5M | 8.6% |
| India | $5.6M | 5.1% |
| China | $5.5M | 5% |
| South Korea | $4.8M | 4.3% |
| Oman | $2.0M | 1.8% |
| Kuwait | $1.9M | 1.7% |
| Canada | $754K | 0.7% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.10 per kg, close to the world average of $1.13.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
High-density polyethylene exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $2.4 million of high-density polyethylene in 2024 (1.4 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Tanzania (35%), DR Congo (33%), Rwanda (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Madagascar grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $833K | 35% |
| DR Congo | $793K | 33% |
| Rwanda | $382K | 16% |
| Uganda | $193K | 8.1% |
| Burundi | $108K | 4.5% |
| Madagascar | $74K | 3.1% |
| South Sudan | $4K | 0.2% |
| China | $1K | 0.1% |
| Saudi Arabia | $1K | 0% |
| Germany | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya high-density polyethylene imports (HS 3901.20): 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 3901.20: Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more.
Common questions
What is the value of high-density polyethylene imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported high-density polyethylene worth $110.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 101.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 55th of 202 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 8% on 2023.
Which countries supply high-density polyethylene to Kenya?
Saudi Arabia was the largest supplier with 44% of the value ($48.2 million), followed by the United Arab Emirates (16%) and the United States (11%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 30 supplier countries in total. Kuwait grew fastest among the top ten, up 74% on the year.
What is the average import price of high-density polyethylene per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.10 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.13 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of high-density polyethylene to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $23.7 million in 2017 to $110.6 million in 2024, an increase of 367%. The peak was 2021 at $127.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $87.6 million a year.
Does Kenya also export high-density polyethylene?
Yes. Kenya exported $2.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Tanzania, the DR Congo and Rwanda. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $108.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for high-density polyethylene?
The HS code for high-density polyethylene is subheading 3901.20. It sits in HS chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3901 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Kenya. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World high-density polyethylene trade: top importers and exporters
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.