Public transit buses imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $47.8 million of public transit buses in 2024 (5.3 thousand tonnes). That is 90% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 29% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $77.9 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $47.8M | 5.3K t |
| 2023 | $25.2M | 3.4K t |
| 2022 | $31.8M | 5.4K t |
| 2021 | $32.0M | 2.9K t |
| 2020 | $53.4M | 7.9K t |
| 2019 | $77.9M | 7.5K t |
| 2018 | $15.8M | 3.8K t |
| 2017 | $8.0M | 883 t |
Where Kenya imports public transit buses from
One supplier dominates: Japan accounted for 63% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Thailand grew fastest (+237% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $30.4M | 64% |
| Brazil | $4.7M | 9.8% |
| China | $4.6M | 9.5% |
| Thailand | $3.0M | 6.4% |
| Germany | $2.5M | 5.3% |
| India | $1.8M | 3.9% |
| United Kingdom | $475K | 1% |
| South Africa | $184K | 0.4% |
| Turkey | $63K | 0.1% |
| Uganda | $26K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 8702
| 8702.10 | Diesel buses | 90% |
| 8702.40 | Electric buses | 6.2% |
| 8702.90 | Buses (other power types) | 1.4% |
| 8702.20 | Hybrid diesel-electric buses | 1% |
| 8702.30 | Hybrid diesel-electric buses (used) | 0.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8702.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $9.01 per kg, 24% below the world average of $11.87, 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.
Public transit buses exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $12.6 million of public transit buses in 2024 (1.5 thousand tonnes). Uganda alone took 58% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest (+632% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $7.3M | 58% |
| Tanzania | $4.4M | 35% |
| DR Congo | $488K | 3.9% |
| South Sudan | $327K | 2.6% |
| Burundi | $72K | 0.6% |
| Japan | $43K | 0.3% |
| Republic of the Congo | $40K | 0.3% |
| Madagascar | $6K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya public transit buses imports (HS 8702): 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 8702: Vehicles; public transport passenger type.
Common questions
What is the value of public transit buses imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported public transit buses worth $47.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 5.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 78th of 210 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 90% on 2023.
Which countries supply public transit buses to Kenya?
Japan was the largest supplier with 63% of the value ($30.4 million), followed by Brazil (10%) and China (10%). The top three together account for 83%, out of 16 supplier countries in total. Turkey grew fastest among the top ten, up 244% on the year.
What is the average import price of public transit buses per kg?
The average declared import value was about $9.01 per kg in 2024, 24% below the world average of $11.87 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of public transit buses to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $8.0 million in 2017 to $47.8 million in 2024, an increase of 496%. The peak was 2019 at $77.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $36.5 million a year.
Does Kenya also export public transit buses?
Yes. Kenya exported $12.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Tanzania and the DR Congo. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $35.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for public transit buses?
The HS code for public transit buses is heading 8702. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8702.10 (90% of the value) and 8702.40 (6%).
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 public transit buses trade: top importers and exporters
Public transit buses product types in Kenya
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