Steel drums imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported steel drums worth $11.9 million (2.7 thousand tonnes). That is 45% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2023, at $21.5 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 | $11.9M | 2.7K t |
| 2023 | $21.5M | 5.3K t |
| 2022 | $16.8M | 4.0K t |
| 2021 | $15.3M | 4.6K t |
| 2020 | $16.9M | 5.4K t |
| 2019 | $14.5M | 4.0K t |
| 2018 | $10.4M | 3.5K t |
| 2017 | $13.0M | 3.1K t |
Where Kenya imports steel drums from
One supplier dominates: France accounted for 74% of the value. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+40% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| France | $8.8M | 74% |
| China | $1.2M | 10% |
| Egypt | $482K | 4.1% |
| Turkey | $461K | 3.9% |
| Netherlands | $220K | 1.9% |
| Jordan | $121K | 1% |
| India | $103K | 0.9% |
| Taiwan | $65K | 0.6% |
| Belgium | $62K | 0.5% |
| South Africa | $62K | 0.5% |
Product types under HS 7310
| 7310.29 | Steel can (other) | 54% |
| 7310.21 | Tinplate can | 35% |
| 7310.10 | Steel drum | 12% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 7310.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.38 per kg, close to the world average of $3.78.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Steel drums exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $4.6 million of steel drums in 2024 (1.7 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Uganda (37%), Tanzania (20%), Zambia (11%). Among the main buyer markets, Uganda grew fastest (+124% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $1.7M | 37% |
| Tanzania | $911K | 20% |
| Zambia | $518K | 11% |
| Rwanda | $462K | 10% |
| Gambia | $246K | 5.3% |
| Somalia | $242K | 5.2% |
| Burundi | $225K | 4.9% |
| South Sudan | $187K | 4.1% |
| Djibouti | $62K | 1.3% |
| Mozambique | $22K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya steel drums imports (HS 7310): 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 7310: Tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), of iron or steel, capacity not exceeding 300l, whether or not lined or heat-insulated.
Common questions
What is the value of steel drums imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported steel drums worth $11.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.7 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 77th of 221 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 45% on 2023.
Which countries supply steel drums to Kenya?
France was the largest supplier with 74% of the value ($8.8 million), followed by China (10%) and Egypt (4%). The top three together account for 88%, out of 47 supplier countries in total. The Netherlands grew fastest among the top ten, up 369% on the year.
What is the average import price of steel drums per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.38 per kg in 2024, 16% above the world average of $3.78 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of steel drums to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $13.0 million in 2017 to $11.9 million in 2024, a fall of 9%. The peak was 2023 at $21.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $15.0 million a year.
Does Kenya also export steel drums?
Yes. Kenya exported $4.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $7.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for steel drums?
The HS code for steel drums is heading 7310. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 7310.29 (54% of the value) and 7310.21 (34%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Kenya, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
Steel drums product types in Kenya
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