Optical fibres and lenses imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $6.7 million of optical fibres and lenses in 2024 (200 tonnes). 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 | $6.7M | 200 t |
| 2023 | $6.7M | 292 t |
| 2022 | $6.8M | 351 t |
| 2021 | $5.4M | 180 t |
| 2020 | $3.4M | 208 t |
| 2019 | $3.8M | 189 t |
| 2018 | $8.1M | 395 t |
| 2017 | $4.5M | 263 t |
Where Kenya imports optical fibres and lenses from
Most of the value came from China (47%), Turkey (16%), India (12%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+58% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.1M | 47% |
| Turkey | $1.1M | 16% |
| India | $806K | 12% |
| United Arab Emirates | $345K | 5.2% |
| Singapore | $263K | 3.9% |
| Germany | $209K | 3.1% |
| Thailand | $133K | 2% |
| United Kingdom | $118K | 1.8% |
| United States | $102K | 1.5% |
| South Africa | $102K | 1.5% |
Product types under HS 9001
| 9001.50 | Plastic spectacle lenses | 49% |
| 9001.10 | Optical fibre cables | 35% |
| 9001.30 | Contact lenses | 11% |
| 9001.90 | Optical elements (other) | 4.1% |
| 9001.40 | Glass spectacle lenses | 0.9% |
| 9001.20 | Optical polarising material | 0.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 9001.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $33.48 per kg, 51% below the world average of $67.96, 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 fibres and lenses exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $719 thousand of optical fibres and lenses in 2024 (16 tonnes). Rwanda alone took 70% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Rwanda grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Rwanda | $507K | 71% |
| Tanzania | $112K | 16% |
| DR Congo | $50K | 7% |
| Uganda | $26K | 3.6% |
| Malawi | $19K | 2.7% |
| Australia | $2K | 0.3% |
| South Sudan | $2K | 0.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $1K | 0.2% |
| Central African Republic | $0K | 0.1% |
| Zambia | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya optical fibres and lenses imports (HS 9001): 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 9001: Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles; optical fibre cables not of heading no. 8544; sheets, plates of polarising material; lenses, prisms, mirrors, of any material; unmounted; not non optical glass.
Common questions
What is the value of optical fibres and lenses imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported optical fibres and lenses worth $6.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 200 tonnes. That ranks it 84th of 215 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply optical fibres and lenses to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 47% of the value ($3.1 million), followed by Turkey (16%) and India (12%). The top three together account for 75%, out of 41 supplier countries in total. South Africa grew fastest among the top ten, up 78% on the year.
What is the average import price of optical fibres and lenses per kg?
The average declared import value was about $33.48 per kg in 2024, 51% below the world average of $67.96 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of optical fibres and lenses to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.5 million in 2017 to $6.7 million in 2024, an increase of 49%. The peak was 2018 at $8.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $5.7 million a year.
Does Kenya also export optical fibres and lenses?
Yes. Kenya exported $719 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Rwanda, Tanzania and the DR Congo. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $6.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for optical fibres and lenses?
The HS code for optical fibres and lenses is heading 9001. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 9001.50 (49% of the value) and 9001.10 (35%).
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 fibres and lenses trade: top importers and exporters
Optical fibres and lenses product types in Kenya
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