Optical fiber cable imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of optical fiber cable by Kenya reached $12.5 million in 2024 (2.9 thousand tonnes). That is 5% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $19.3 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 | $12.5M | 2.9K t |
| 2023 | $13.1M | 3.0K t |
| 2022 | $17.2M | 3.8K t |
| 2021 | $12.8M | 2.1K t |
| 2020 | $5.8M | 820 t |
| 2019 | $10.6M | 1.7K t |
| 2018 | $19.3M | 2.2K t |
| 2017 | $8.0M | 1.0K t |
Where Kenya imports optical fiber cable from
China alone supplied 90% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $11.3M | 90% |
| France | $266K | 2.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $203K | 1.6% |
| Netherlands | $134K | 1.1% |
| India | $134K | 1.1% |
| Hong Kong | $90K | 0.7% |
| Taiwan | $88K | 0.7% |
| United States | $52K | 0.4% |
| Australia | $46K | 0.4% |
| Japan | $37K | 0.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.35 per kg, 67% below the world average of $13.19, 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.
Optical fiber cable exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $2.5 million of optical fiber cable in 2024 (615 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Uganda accounted for 64% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Zambia grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $1.6M | 64% |
| DR Congo | $284K | 11% |
| South Sudan | $156K | 6.1% |
| Zambia | $123K | 4.8% |
| Rwanda | $120K | 4.7% |
| Zimbabwe | $74K | 2.9% |
| Burundi | $63K | 2.5% |
| Tanzania | $62K | 2.5% |
| Seychelles | $21K | 0.8% |
| Somalia | $8K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya optical fiber cable imports (HS 8544.70): 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 8544.70: Insulated electric conductors: optical fibre cables.
Common questions
What is the value of optical fiber cable imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported optical fiber cable worth $12.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 78th of 218 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply optical fiber cable to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 90% of the value ($11.3 million), followed by France (2%) and the United Arab Emirates (2%). The top three together account for 94%, out of 42 supplier countries in total. The United States grew fastest among the top ten, up 91% on the year.
What is the average import price of optical fiber cable per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.35 per kg in 2024, 67% below the world average of $13.19 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of optical fiber cable to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $8.0 million in 2017 to $12.5 million in 2024, an increase of 56%. The peak was 2018 at $19.3 million. Over 8 years the average was $12.4 million a year.
Does Kenya also export optical fiber cable?
Yes. Kenya exported $2.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, the DR Congo and South Sudan. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $10.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for optical fiber cable?
The HS code for optical fiber cable is subheading 8544.70. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8544 page.
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 optical fiber cable trade: top importers and exporters
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