Smart cards imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $8.6 million of smart cards in 2024 (68 tonnes). The value was almost unchanged from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $43.6 million.
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 | $8.6M | 68 t |
| 2023 | $8.6M | 80 t |
| 2022 | $23.4M | 166 t |
| 2021 | $43.6M | 292 t |
| 2020 | $28.1M | 237 t |
| 2019 | $12.5M | 88 t |
| 2018 | $12.5M | 199 t |
| 2017 | $10.9M | 167 t |
Where Kenya imports smart cards from
The largest suppliers were China (32%), France (30%), Egypt (14%). Among the main suppliers, France grew fastest (+176% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.7M | 32% |
| France | $2.6M | 30% |
| Egypt | $1.2M | 15% |
| United Arab Emirates | $1.0M | 12% |
| Sri Lanka | $244K | 2.8% |
| India | $174K | 2% |
| Tanzania | $135K | 1.6% |
| Hong Kong | $98K | 1.1% |
| South Africa | $73K | 0.8% |
| Romania | $52K | 0.6% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $125.94 per kg, close to the world average of $112.76.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya smart cards imports (HS 8523.52): 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 8523.52: Semiconductor media: smart cards, whether or not recorded, excluding products of Chapter 37.
Common questions
What is the value of smart cards imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported smart cards worth $8.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 68 tonnes. That ranks it 88th of 215 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply smart cards to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 32% of the value ($2.7 million), followed by France (30%) and Egypt (14%). The top three together account for 76%, out of 58 supplier countries in total. France grew fastest among the top ten, up 176% on the year.
What is the average import price of smart cards per kg?
The average declared import value was about $125.94 per kg in 2024, 12% above the world average of $112.76 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of smart cards to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $10.9 million in 2017 to $8.6 million in 2024, a fall of 21%. The peak was 2021 at $43.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $18.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for smart cards?
The HS code for smart cards is subheading 8523.52. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8523 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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