Shoe polish exports from Kenya: data, top buyers and prices
Kenya exported $7.0 million of shoe polish in 2024 (1.4 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 2%. Value rose 39% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 31% a year on average.
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 | $7.0M | 1.4K t |
| 2023 | $5.0M | 1.1K t |
| 2022 | $6.6M | 1.5K t |
| 2021 | $5.9M | 1.3K t |
| 2020 | $4.5M | 1.0K t |
| 2019 | $5.4M | 1.1K t |
| 2018 | $5.2M | 1.1K t |
| 2017 | $1.1M | 172 t |
Where Kenya exports shoe polish to
Most of it went to Uganda (27%), Tanzania (23%), Ethiopia (20%). Among the main buyer markets, Rwanda grew fastest (+116% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $1.9M | 27% |
| Tanzania | $1.6M | 23% |
| Ethiopia | $1.4M | 20% |
| Rwanda | $828K | 12% |
| DR Congo | $504K | 7.2% |
| Zambia | $441K | 6.3% |
| Malawi | $265K | 3.8% |
| Burundi | $14K | 0.2% |
| Malaysia | $3K | 0.1% |
| Somalia | $3K | 0% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.06 per kg, close to the world average of $6.07.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Shoe polish imports to Kenya
In 2024, Kenya imported shoe polish worth $478 thousand (247 tonnes). China alone supplied 62% of it. Among the main suppliers, South Africa grew fastest (+68% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $297K | 62% |
| Indonesia | $114K | 24% |
| South Africa | $29K | 6.1% |
| India | $11K | 2.2% |
| United Kingdom | $10K | 2% |
| Italy | $5K | 1.1% |
| France | $5K | 1% |
| United States | $2K | 0.5% |
| Turkey | $2K | 0.4% |
| Spain | $1K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya shoe polish exports (HS 3405.10): 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 3405.10: Polishes, creams and similar preparations: for footwear or leather, excluding waxes of heading no. 3404.
Common questions
What is the value of shoe polish exported by Kenya?
Kenya exported shoe polish worth $7.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 13th of 137 countries worldwide, with 2% of world exports. The value was up 39% on 2023.
Which countries buy shoe polish from Kenya?
Uganda was the largest buyer with 27% of the value ($1.9 million), followed by Tanzania (23%) and Ethiopia (20%). The top three together account for 71%, out of 16 buyer countries in total. Rwanda grew fastest among the top ten, up 116% on the year.
What is the average export price of shoe polish per kg?
The average declared export value was about $5.06 per kg in 2024, 17% below the world average of $6.07 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of shoe polish from Kenya changed since 2017?
Exports went from $1.1 million in 2017 to $7.0 million in 2024, an increase of 548%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $5.1 million a year.
Does Kenya also import shoe polish?
Yes. Kenya imported $478 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly from China, Indonesia and South Africa. On balance Kenya is a net exporter of this product, by about $6.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for shoe polish?
The HS code for shoe polish is subheading 3405.10. It sits in HS chapter 34 (soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3405 page.
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.
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