Pencils and crayons imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of pencils and crayons by Kenya reached $5.6 million in 2024 (2.1 thousand tonnes). Value fell 25% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 7% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $11.4 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 | $5.6M | 2.1K t |
| 2023 | $7.5M | 1.9K t |
| 2022 | $7.2M | 2.1K t |
| 2021 | $5.6M | 1.6K t |
| 2020 | $2.3M | 913 t |
| 2019 | $5.4M | 2.1K t |
| 2018 | $11.4M | 3.5K t |
| 2017 | $9.3M | 3.1K t |
Where Kenya imports pencils and crayons from
China alone supplied 54% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.0M | 54% |
| India | $1.6M | 29% |
| Jordan | $523K | 9.3% |
| Germany | $212K | 3.8% |
| Indonesia | $140K | 2.5% |
| France | $21K | 0.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | $13K | 0.2% |
| United States | $11K | 0.2% |
| Taiwan | $11K | 0.2% |
| Thailand | $10K | 0.2% |
Product types under HS 9609
| 9609.10 | Colored pencil | 77% |
| 9609.90 | Pastel chalk | 21% |
| 9609.20 | Pencil lead | 1.8% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 9609.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.62 per kg, 54% below the world average of $5.72, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya pencils and crayons imports (HS 9609): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 9609: Pencils (not of heading no. 9608), crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks and tailors' chalks.
Common questions
What is the value of pencils and crayons imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported pencils and crayons worth $5.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 56th of 219 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 25% on 2023.
Which countries supply pencils and crayons to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 54% of the value ($3.0 million), followed by India (29%) and Jordan (9%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 38 supplier countries in total. Taiwan grew fastest among the top ten, up 32% on the year.
What is the average import price of pencils and crayons per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.62 per kg in 2024, 54% below the world average of $5.72 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of pencils and crayons to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $9.3 million in 2017 to $5.6 million in 2024, a fall of 40%. The peak was 2018 at $11.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for pencils and crayons?
The HS code for pencils and crayons is heading 9609. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 9609.10 (77% of the value) and 9609.90 (21%).
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 pencils and crayons trade: top importers and exporters
Pencils and crayons product types in Kenya
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.