Phosphate imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $27.6 million of phosphate in 2024 (23.7 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 9% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 13% a year on average.
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 | $27.6M | 23.7K t |
| 2023 | $30.3M | 23.6K t |
| 2022 | $30.7M | 19.2K t |
| 2021 | $23.2M | 23.9K t |
| 2020 | $19.1M | 22.2K t |
| 2019 | $24.1M | 26.3K t |
| 2018 | $14.4M | 18.5K t |
| 2017 | $11.8M | 16.0K t |
Where Kenya imports phosphate from
The largest suppliers were China (43%), Thailand (37%), Belgium (6%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $11.9M | 43% |
| Thailand | $10.2M | 37% |
| Belgium | $1.7M | 6.3% |
| Israel | $1.2M | 4.5% |
| South Africa | $1.0M | 3.7% |
| Turkey | $896K | 3.3% |
| India | $243K | 0.9% |
| Germany | $100K | 0.4% |
| Tunisia | $93K | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | $49K | 0.2% |
Product types under HS 2835
| 2835.39 | Polyphosphates (other) | 29% |
| 2835.22 | Sodium phosphate | 25% |
| 2835.24 | Potassium phosphate | 21% |
| 2835.25 | Dicalcium phosphate | 12% |
| 2835.26 | Calcium phosphate (other) | 6.1% |
| 2835.29 | Phosphates (other) | 4.1% |
| 2835.31 | Sodium tripolyphosphate | 2.4% |
| 2835.10 | Hypophosphites and phosphites | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2835.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.17 per kg, close to the world average of $1.17.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Phosphate exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $437 thousand of phosphate in 2024 (2.3 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Uganda (26%), Rwanda (21%), Ethiopia (19%).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $115K | 26% |
| Rwanda | $92K | 21% |
| Ethiopia | $82K | 19% |
| Tanzania | $81K | 19% |
| Burundi | $56K | 13% |
| India | $7K | 1.5% |
| Zimbabwe | $3K | 0.6% |
| Germany | $1K | 0.3% |
| Somalia | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya phosphate imports (HS 2835): 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 2835: Phosphinates (hypophosphites), phosphonates (phosphites), and phosphates; and polyphosphates, whether or not chemically defined.
Common questions
What is the value of phosphate imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported phosphate worth $27.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 23.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 44th of 204 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 9% on 2023.
Which countries supply phosphate to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 43% of the value ($11.9 million), followed by Thailand (37%) and Belgium (6%). The top three together account for 86%, out of 24 supplier countries in total. Turkey grew fastest among the top ten, up 20% on the year.
What is the average import price of phosphate per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.17 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.17 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of phosphate to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $11.8 million in 2017 to $27.6 million in 2024, an increase of 134%. The peak was 2022 at $30.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $22.7 million a year.
Does Kenya also export phosphate?
Yes. Kenya exported $437 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $27.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for phosphate?
The HS code for phosphate is heading 2835. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 2835.39 (29% of the value) and 2835.22 (25%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Kenya. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
Phosphate product types in Kenya
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