Ignition system imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of ignition system by Kenya reached $8.1 million in 2024 (845 tonnes). That is 44% more than in 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 | $8.1M | 845 t |
| 2023 | $5.6M | 616 t |
| 2022 | $5.8M | 683 t |
| 2021 | $9.7M | 494 t |
| 2020 | $5.8M | 758 t |
| 2019 | $6.7M | 421 t |
| 2018 | $6.5M | 314 t |
| 2017 | $5.3M | 267 t |
Where Kenya imports ignition system from
Most of the value came from United States (38%), China (25%), Japan (12%). Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest (+311% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $3.0M | 38% |
| China | $2.0M | 25% |
| Japan | $995K | 12% |
| India | $658K | 8.2% |
| South Africa | $272K | 3.4% |
| Germany | $240K | 3% |
| United Kingdom | $129K | 1.6% |
| France | $74K | 0.9% |
| Thailand | $68K | 0.9% |
| Czech Republic | $52K | 0.6% |
Product types under HS 8511
| 8511.40 | Starter motors | 45% |
| 8511.10 | Spark plugs | 26% |
| 8511.50 | Engine alternators and generators | 9% |
| 8511.90 | Ignition system parts | 7.8% |
| 8511.80 | Engine electrical components | 6.3% |
| 8511.30 | Ignition coils and distributors | 4.2% |
| 8511.20 | Ignition magnetos and flywheels | 2.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8511.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $9.55 per kg, 46% below the world average of $17.60, 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.
Ignition system exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $404 thousand of ignition system in 2024 (31 tonnes). Most of it went to Nigeria (28%), United States (16%), Republic of the Congo (14%). Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | $113K | 28% |
| United States | $65K | 16% |
| Republic of the Congo | $57K | 14% |
| Rwanda | $45K | 11% |
| Djibouti | $43K | 11% |
| South Africa | $21K | 5.2% |
| Belgium | $16K | 4.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $14K | 3.5% |
| DR Congo | $7K | 1.7% |
| Uganda | $7K | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya ignition system imports (HS 8511): 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 8511: Ignition or starting equipment; used for spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines; generators and cut outs used in conjunction with such engines.
Common questions
What is the value of ignition system imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported ignition system worth $8.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 845 tonnes. That ranks it 93rd of 224 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 44% on 2023.
Which countries supply ignition system to Kenya?
The United States was the largest supplier with 38% of the value ($3.0 million), followed by China (25%) and Japan (12%). The top three together account for 76%, out of 54 supplier countries in total. The United States grew fastest among the top ten, up 311% on the year.
What is the average import price of ignition system per kg?
The average declared import value was about $9.55 per kg in 2024, 46% below the world average of $17.60 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of ignition system to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $5.3 million in 2017 to $8.1 million in 2024, an increase of 53%. The peak was 2021 at $9.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.7 million a year.
Does Kenya also export ignition system?
Yes. Kenya exported $404 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Nigeria, the United States and the Republic of the Congo. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $7.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for ignition system?
The HS code for ignition system is heading 8511. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8511.40 (44% of the value) and 8511.10 (26%).
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
Ignition system product types in Kenya
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