Hot-rolled steel coils imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $451.8 million of hot-rolled steel coils in 2024 (775.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. The value was almost unchanged from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $451.8M | 775.1K t |
| 2023 | $454.4M | 710.6K t |
| 2022 | $478.0M | 602.5K t |
| 2021 | $478.5M | 553.6K t |
| 2020 | $349.3M | 689.1K t |
| 2019 | $424.5M | 705.6K t |
| 2018 | $363.4M | 593.0K t |
| 2017 | $310.0M | 587.1K t |
Where Kenya imports hot-rolled steel coils from
One supplier dominates: Japan accounted for 51% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $228.6M | 51% |
| China | $199.9M | 44% |
| South Korea | $19.4M | 4.3% |
| India | $1.0M | 0.2% |
| South Africa | $973K | 0.2% |
| Switzerland | $796K | 0.2% |
| Belgium | $556K | 0.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $208K | 0.1% |
| Uganda | $153K | 0% |
| Germany | $87K | 0% |
Product types under HS 7208
| 7208.39 | Hot-rolled steel coil thin | 86% |
| 7208.38 | Medium hot-rolled steel coil | 6% |
| 7208.37 | Thick hot-rolled steel coil | 2.8% |
| 7208.27 | Thin hot-rolled pickled coil | 2.8% |
| 7208.51 | Hot-rolled steel sheet thick | 0.8% |
| 7208.36 | Hot-rolled steel coil thick | 0.5% |
| 7208.52 | Thick hot-rolled steel sheet | 0.4% |
| 7208.40 | Hot-rolled patterned steel sheet | 0.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 7208.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.58 per kg, close to the world average of $0.69.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Hot-rolled steel coils exports from Kenya
Exports of hot-rolled steel coils by Kenya reached $3.6 million in 2024 (3.5 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Rwanda (28%), Burundi (25%), DR Congo (20%). Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest (+668% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rwanda | $1.0M | 28% |
| Burundi | $908K | 25% |
| DR Congo | $738K | 20% |
| Uganda | $543K | 15% |
| South Sudan | $206K | 5.7% |
| Tanzania | $169K | 4.7% |
| Malawi | $40K | 1.1% |
| Somalia | $1K | 0% |
| Namibia | $1K | 0% |
| South Africa | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya hot-rolled steel coils imports (HS 7208): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 7208: Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products of a width of 600mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated.
Common questions
What is the value of hot-rolled steel coils imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported hot-rolled steel coils worth $451.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 775.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 37th of 214 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply hot-rolled steel coils to Kenya?
Japan was the largest supplier with 51% of the value ($228.6 million), followed by China (44%) and South Korea (4%). The top three together account for 99%, out of 17 supplier countries in total. Uganda grew fastest among the top ten, up 603% on the year.
What is the average import price of hot-rolled steel coils per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.58 per kg in 2024, 16% below the world average of $0.69 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of hot-rolled steel coils to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $310.0 million in 2017 to $451.8 million in 2024, an increase of 46%. The peak was 2021 at $478.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $413.7 million a year.
Does Kenya also export hot-rolled steel coils?
Yes. Kenya exported $3.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Rwanda, Burundi and the DR Congo. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $448.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for hot-rolled steel coils?
The HS code for hot-rolled steel coils is heading 7208. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 7208.39 (86% of the value) and 7208.38 (6%).
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 hot-rolled steel coils trade: top importers and exporters
Hot-rolled steel coils product types in Kenya
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