Retail staple fibre yarn exports from Kenya: data, top buyers and prices
Kenya exported $5.1 million of retail staple fibre yarn in 2024 (956 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. That is 5% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 20% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2020, at $8.7 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5.1M | 956 t |
| 2023 | $5.4M | 941 t |
| 2022 | $5.9M | 999 t |
| 2021 | $8.3M | 1.5K t |
| 2020 | $8.7M | 1.6K t |
| 2019 | $7.1M | 1.5K t |
| 2018 | $5.6M | 1.0K t |
| 2017 | $1.4M | 248 t |
Where Kenya exports retail staple fibre yarn to
One buyer market dominates: Uganda accounted for 59% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest (+111% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $3.0M | 60% |
| Rwanda | $1.3M | 25% |
| South Sudan | $460K | 9.1% |
| DR Congo | $316K | 6.2% |
| Burundi | $1K | 0% |
| Turkey | $0K | 0% |
Product types under HS 5511
| 5511.10 | Yarn: (not sewing thread), of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres, put up for retail sale | 100% |
| 5511.30 | Yarn: (not sewing thread), of artificial staple fibres, put up for retail sale | 0% |
| 5511.20 | Synthetic blend yarn (retail) | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5511.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.30 per kg, 28% below the world average of $7.39, 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.
Retail staple fibre yarn imports to Kenya
Imports of retail staple fibre yarn by Kenya reached $1.5 million in 2024 (473 tonnes). China alone supplied 99% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+603% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.4M | 99% |
| India | $9K | 0.6% |
| France | $8K | 0.6% |
| Turkey | $1K | 0% |
| United States | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya retail staple fibre yarn exports (HS 5511): 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 5511: Yarn (not sewing thread), of man-made staple fibres, put up for retail sale.
Common questions
What is the value of retail staple fibre yarn exported by Kenya?
Kenya exported retail staple fibre yarn worth $5.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 956 tonnes. That ranks it 11th of 111 countries worldwide, with 1% of world exports. The value was down 5% on 2023.
Which countries buy retail staple fibre yarn from Kenya?
Uganda was the largest buyer with 59% of the value ($3.0 million), followed by Rwanda (25%) and South Sudan (9%). The top three together account for 94%, out of 6 buyer countries in total. The DR Congo grew fastest among the top ten, up 111% on the year.
What is the average export price of retail staple fibre yarn per kg?
The average declared export value was about $5.30 per kg in 2024, 28% below the world average of $7.39 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of retail staple fibre yarn from Kenya changed since 2017?
Exports went from $1.4 million in 2017 to $5.1 million in 2024, an increase of 251%. The peak was 2020 at $8.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $5.9 million a year.
Does Kenya also import retail staple fibre yarn?
Yes. Kenya imported $1.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, India and France. On balance Kenya is a net exporter of this product, by about $3.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for retail staple fibre yarn?
The HS code for retail staple fibre yarn is heading 5511. In Kenya all of this trade was declared under the six-digit code 5511.10. It sits in HS chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5511 page.
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 retail staple fibre yarn trade: top importers and exporters
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