Silicate imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of silicate by Kenya reached $3.3 million in 2024 (3.7 thousand tonnes). That is close to the 2023 level. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 14% 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 | $3.3M | 3.7K t |
| 2023 | $3.4M | 4.0K t |
| 2022 | $3.4M | 4.5K t |
| 2021 | $2.1M | 2.9K t |
| 2020 | $2.6M | 4.3K t |
| 2019 | $2.7M | 3.9K t |
| 2018 | $879K | 1.4K t |
| 2017 | $1.3M | 2.4K t |
Where Kenya imports silicate from
One supplier dominates: China accounted for 72% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Australia grew fastest (+56% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.4M | 72% |
| India | $491K | 15% |
| Australia | $396K | 12% |
| Egypt | $19K | 0.6% |
| Malaysia | $13K | 0.4% |
| Sri Lanka | $9K | 0.3% |
| United States | $4K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $4K | 0.1% |
| Belgium | $1K | 0% |
| South Africa | $1K | 0% |
Product types under HS 2839
| 2839.90 | Alkali metal silicates (non-sodium) | 57% |
| 2839.11 | Sodium metasilicate | 28% |
| 2839.19 | Sodium silicate (other) | 15% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2839.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.90 per kg, 70% above the world average of $0.53. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Silicate exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $3.2 million of silicate in 2024 (8.9 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Ethiopia (38%), Tanzania (24%), Rwanda (19%). Among the main buyer markets, Burundi grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | $1.2M | 38% |
| Tanzania | $753K | 24% |
| Rwanda | $607K | 19% |
| Uganda | $231K | 7.3% |
| Burundi | $137K | 4.3% |
| Zambia | $123K | 3.9% |
| Republic of the Congo | $100K | 3.1% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $9K | 0.3% |
| Somalia | $0K | 0% |
| Croatia | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya silicate imports (HS 2839): 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 2839: Silicates; commercial alkali metal silicates.
Common questions
What is the value of silicate imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported silicate worth $3.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 55th of 190 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply silicate to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 72% of the value ($2.4 million), followed by India (15%) and Australia (12%). The top three together account for 98%, out of 11 supplier countries in total. Egypt grew fastest among the top ten, up 84% on the year.
What is the average import price of silicate per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.90 per kg in 2024, 70% above the world average of $0.53 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of silicate to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.3 million in 2017 to $3.3 million in 2024, an increase of 155%. The peak was 2022 at $3.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.5 million a year.
Does Kenya also export silicate?
Yes. Kenya exported $3.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda. That compares with imports of $3.3 million in the same year.
What is the HS code for silicate?
The HS code for silicate is heading 2839. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 2839.90 (57% of the value) and 2839.11 (28%).
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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