Live cattle imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $4.2 million of live cattle in 2024 (3.7 thousand tonnes). That is 99% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 30% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2017, at $53.5 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 | $4.2M | 3.7K t |
| 2023 | $2.1M | 1.6K t |
| 2022 | $4.8M | 3.8K t |
| 2021 | $15.1M | 7.9K t |
| 2020 | $5.9M | 4.3K t |
| 2019 | $11.6M | 5.4K t |
| 2018 | $2.6M | 3.6K t |
| 2017 | $53.5M | 7.5K t |
Where Kenya imports live cattle from
One supplier dominates: Tanzania accounted for 83% of the value. Among the main suppliers, South Africa grew fastest (+322% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $3.5M | 84% |
| South Africa | $489K | 12% |
| Uganda | $207K | 4.9% |
Product types under HS 0102
| 0102.29 | Cattle: live, other than pure-bred breeding animals | 89% |
| 0102.21 | Pure-bred breeding cattle | 11% |
| 0102.90 | Live bovines (other species) | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 0102.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.15 per kg, 67% below the world average of $3.51, 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.
Live cattle exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $1.3 million of live cattle in 2024 (1.3 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Oman accounted for 64% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Oman grew fastest (+540% on the year before).
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya live cattle imports (HS 0102): 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 0102: Bovine animals; live.
Common questions
What is the value of live cattle imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported live cattle worth $4.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 71st of 150 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 99% on 2023.
Which countries supply live cattle to Kenya?
Tanzania was the largest supplier with 83% of the value ($3.5 million), followed by South Africa (12%) and Uganda (5%). The top three together account for 100%, out of 3 supplier countries in total. South Africa grew fastest among the top ten, up 322% on the year.
What is the average import price of live cattle per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.15 per kg in 2024, 67% below the world average of $3.51 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of live cattle to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $53.5 million in 2017 to $4.2 million in 2024, a fall of 92%. The peak was 2017 at $53.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $12.5 million a year.
Does Kenya also export live cattle?
Yes. Kenya exported $1.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Oman, Ethiopia and Uganda. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $2.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for live cattle?
The HS code for live cattle is heading 0102. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 0102.29 (89% of the value) and 0102.21 (11%).
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.
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