Rice imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of rice by Kenya reached $494.0 million in 2024 (894.9 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 20% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $494.0M | 894.9K t |
| 2023 | $410.1M | 972.0K t |
| 2022 | $299.4M | 701.7K t |
| 2021 | $275.2M | 622.5K t |
| 2020 | $251.4M | 627.5K t |
| 2019 | $253.6M | 636.4K t |
| 2018 | $330.8M | 782.8K t |
| 2017 | $316.4M | 797.7K t |
Where Kenya imports rice from
Most of the value came from Pakistan (48%), India (35%), Tanzania (9%). Among the main suppliers, Tanzania grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | $237.3M | 48% |
| India | $174.3M | 35% |
| Tanzania | $42.1M | 8.5% |
| Thailand | $26.1M | 5.3% |
| South Korea | $10.8M | 2.2% |
| China | $3.0M | 0.6% |
| Uganda | $109K | 0% |
| Italy | $62K | 0% |
| Vietnam | $55K | 0% |
| United Arab Emirates | $49K | 0% |
Product types under HS 1006
| 1006.30 | Milled rice | 95% |
| 1006.40 | Broken rice | 4.7% |
| 1006.20 | Brown rice | 0% |
| 1006.10 | Paddy rice | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 1006.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.55 per kg, close to the world average of $0.64.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Rice exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported rice worth $3.7 million (6.8 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: DR Congo accounted for 69% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest (+337% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $2.5M | 69% |
| Ethiopia | $474K | 13% |
| Djibouti | $361K | 9.7% |
| Tanzania | $147K | 4% |
| Rwanda | $79K | 2.1% |
| South Sudan | $46K | 1.2% |
| Uganda | $26K | 0.7% |
| Qatar | $8K | 0.2% |
| Austria | $6K | 0.2% |
| United States | $5K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya rice imports (HS 1006): 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 1006: Rice.
Common questions
What is the value of rice imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported rice worth $494.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 894.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 24th of 223 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 20% on 2023.
Which countries supply rice to Kenya?
Pakistan was the largest supplier with 48% of the value ($237.3 million), followed by India (35%) and Tanzania (9%). The top three together account for 92%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. Thailand grew fastest among the top ten, up 561% on the year.
What is the average import price of rice per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.55 per kg in 2024, 14% below the world average of $0.64 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of rice to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $316.4 million in 2017 to $494.0 million in 2024, an increase of 56%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $328.9 million a year.
Does Kenya also export rice?
Yes. Kenya exported $3.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Ethiopia and Djibouti. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $490.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for rice?
The HS code for rice is heading 1006. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 1006.30 (95% of the value) and 1006.40 (5%).
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
Rice product types in Kenya
More trade data for Kenya
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