Light cotton fabric imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported light cotton fabric worth $22.4 million (2.5 thousand tonnes). Value rose 15% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 16% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $85.7 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 | $22.4M | 2.5K t |
| 2023 | $19.4M | 2.8K t |
| 2022 | $36.9M | 4.6K t |
| 2021 | $32.0M | 4.3K t |
| 2020 | $29.5M | 4.6K t |
| 2019 | $38.7M | 4.1K t |
| 2018 | $85.7M | 12.6K t |
| 2017 | $78.7M | 12.3K t |
Where Kenya imports light cotton fabric from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 55% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Hong Kong grew fastest (+68% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $12.4M | 55% |
| India | $4.2M | 19% |
| Pakistan | $3.6M | 16% |
| Hong Kong | $1.6M | 7.1% |
| Tanzania | $286K | 1.3% |
| Egypt | $151K | 0.7% |
| United Kingdom | $109K | 0.5% |
| Madagascar | $60K | 0.3% |
| Ghana | $21K | 0.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $20K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 5208
| 5208.52 | Printed medium plain cotton fabric | 49% |
| 5208.39 | Dyed light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 14% |
| 5208.33 | Dyed light twill cotton fabric | 6.3% |
| 5208.11 | Unbleached light plain cotton fabric | 5.4% |
| 5208.32 | Dyed medium plain cotton fabric | 4% |
| 5208.22 | Bleached medium plain cotton fabric | 3.6% |
| 5208.42 | Multi-colour medium plain cotton fabric | 3.2% |
| 5208.59 | Printed light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 2.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5208.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $8.98 per kg, close to the world average of $9.39.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Light cotton fabric exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $598 thousand of light cotton fabric in 2024 (55 tonnes). DR Congo alone took 52% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $313K | 52% |
| Croatia | $111K | 19% |
| United Arab Emirates | $67K | 11% |
| Uganda | $19K | 3.2% |
| Tanzania | $16K | 2.7% |
| Burundi | $11K | 1.8% |
| China | $10K | 1.6% |
| Fiji | $9K | 1.6% |
| Canada | $8K | 1.3% |
| United States | $8K | 1.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya light cotton fabric imports (HS 5208): 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 5208: Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2.
Common questions
What is the value of light cotton fabric imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported light cotton fabric worth $22.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 63rd of 214 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 15% on 2023.
Which countries supply light cotton fabric to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 55% of the value ($12.4 million), followed by India (19%) and Pakistan (16%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 30 supplier countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 68% on the year.
What is the average import price of light cotton fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $8.98 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $9.39 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of light cotton fabric to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $78.7 million in 2017 to $22.4 million in 2024, a fall of 72%. The peak was 2018 at $85.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $42.9 million a year.
Does Kenya also export light cotton fabric?
Yes. Kenya exported $598 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Croatia and the United Arab Emirates. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $21.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for light cotton fabric?
The HS code for light cotton fabric is heading 5208. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 5208.52 (49% of the value) and 5208.39 (14%).
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
World light cotton fabric trade: top importers and exporters
Light cotton fabric product types in Kenya
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