Phones and network equipment imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported phones and network equipment worth $326.1 million (3.6 thousand tonnes). Value rose 28% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $582.2 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 | $326.1M | 3.6K t |
| 2023 | $255.6M | 3.1K t |
| 2022 | $211.4M | 2.3K t |
| 2021 | $342.9M | 1.2K t |
| 2020 | $318.8M | 5.5K t |
| 2019 | $519.8M | 1.9K t |
| 2018 | $582.2M | 4.5K t |
| 2017 | $227.8M | 1.7K t |
Where Kenya imports phones and network equipment from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 61% of the value. Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest (+473% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $199.5M | 61% |
| United States | $31.4M | 9.6% |
| Netherlands | $23.8M | 7.3% |
| Finland | $8.8M | 2.7% |
| Vietnam | $7.9M | 2.4% |
| Mexico | $7.2M | 2.2% |
| Taiwan | $6.0M | 1.8% |
| United Kingdom | $5.5M | 1.7% |
| Thailand | $5.3M | 1.6% |
| Italy | $4.5M | 1.4% |
Product types under HS 8517
| 8517.62 | Transmission and switching apparatus | 58% |
| 8517.12 | Mobile phones | 18% |
| 8517.70 | Telephone and communication parts | 17% |
| 8517.61 | Base stations | 4.1% |
| 8517.69 | Communication apparatus (other) | 3.2% |
| 8517.18 | Telephone sets (other) | 0.3% |
| 8517.11 | Cordless telephones | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8517.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $91.75 per kg, 62% below the world average of $239.13, 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.
Phones and network equipment exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported phones and network equipment worth $11.3 million (529 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Uganda (21%), Sudan (15%), Netherlands (12%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 48%. Among the main buyer markets, Malawi grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $2.3M | 21% |
| Sudan | $1.7M | 15% |
| Netherlands | $1.3M | 12% |
| Hungary | $1.1M | 9.5% |
| Tanzania | $776K | 6.9% |
| Madagascar | $475K | 4.2% |
| Hong Kong | $448K | 4% |
| Rwanda | $424K | 3.8% |
| DR Congo | $368K | 3.3% |
| Malawi | $299K | 2.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya phones and network equipment imports (HS 8517): 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 8517: Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular/wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data (including wired/wireless networks), excluding items of 8443, 8525, 8527, or 8528.
Common questions
What is the value of phones and network equipment imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported phones and network equipment worth $326.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 87th of 226 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 28% on 2023.
Which countries supply phones and network equipment to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 61% of the value ($199.5 million), followed by the United States (10%) and the Netherlands (7%). The top three together account for 78%, out of 96 supplier countries in total. Thailand grew fastest among the top ten, up 523% on the year.
What is the average import price of phones and network equipment per kg?
The average declared import value was about $91.75 per kg in 2024, 62% below the world average of $239.13 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of phones and network equipment to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $227.8 million in 2017 to $326.1 million in 2024, an increase of 43%. The peak was 2018 at $582.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $348.1 million a year.
Does Kenya also export phones and network equipment?
Yes. Kenya exported $11.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Sudan and the Netherlands. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $314.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for phones and network equipment?
The HS code for phones and network equipment is heading 8517. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8517.62 (58% of the value) and 8517.12 (18%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for Kenya reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World phones and network equipment trade: top importers and exporters
Phones and network equipment product types in Kenya
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