Storage media imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $30.1 million of storage media in 2024 (550 tonnes). That is 63% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $56.7 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 | $30.1M | 550 t |
| 2023 | $18.5M | 525 t |
| 2022 | $30.4M | 347 t |
| 2021 | $56.7M | 810 t |
| 2020 | $36.3M | 502 t |
| 2019 | $23.8M | 408 t |
| 2018 | $22.9M | 673 t |
| 2017 | $20.0M | 649 t |
Where Kenya imports storage media from
The largest suppliers were South Africa (34%), United Arab Emirates (14%), China (12%). Among the main suppliers, South Africa grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $10.3M | 34% |
| United Arab Emirates | $4.1M | 14% |
| China | $3.6M | 12% |
| France | $2.7M | 8.9% |
| Netherlands | $2.1M | 6.9% |
| Austria | $1.8M | 6.1% |
| Egypt | $1.2M | 4.1% |
| Sri Lanka | $594K | 2% |
| United States | $462K | 1.5% |
| Bulgaria | $439K | 1.5% |
Product types under HS 8523
| 8523.80 | Storage media (other) | 58% |
| 8523.52 | Smart cards | 29% |
| 8523.51 | Solid-state storage devices | 5.8% |
| 8523.49 | Recorded optical discs | 4.6% |
| 8523.59 | Semiconductor storage media (other) | 1.5% |
| 8523.29 | Magnetic tape media | 0.5% |
| 8523.21 | Magnetic stripe cards | 0.4% |
| 8523.41 | Blank optical discs | 0.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8523.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $54.77 per kg, 71% below the world average of $190.33, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Storage media exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported storage media worth $5.4 million (105 tonnes). Uganda alone took 78% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Uganda grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $4.3M | 79% |
| United States | $521K | 9.6% |
| Rwanda | $262K | 4.8% |
| Malawi | $206K | 3.8% |
| Hong Kong | $51K | 0.9% |
| Tanzania | $25K | 0.5% |
| South Sudan | $14K | 0.3% |
| Mauritius | $13K | 0.2% |
| Netherlands | $12K | 0.2% |
| Zimbabwe | $11K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya storage media imports (HS 8523): 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 8523: Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, smart cards and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, excluding products of Chapter 37.
Common questions
What is the value of storage media imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported storage media worth $30.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 550 tonnes. That ranks it 84th of 222 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 63% on 2023.
Which countries supply storage media to Kenya?
South Africa was the largest supplier with 34% of the value ($10.3 million), followed by the United Arab Emirates (14%) and China (12%). The top three together account for 60%, out of 89 supplier countries in total. Sri Lanka grew fastest among the top ten, up 349% on the year.
What is the average import price of storage media per kg?
The average declared import value was about $54.77 per kg in 2024, 71% below the world average of $190.33 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of storage media to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $20.0 million in 2017 to $30.1 million in 2024, an increase of 50%. The peak was 2021 at $56.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $29.8 million a year.
Does Kenya also export storage media?
Yes. Kenya exported $5.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, the United States and Rwanda. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $24.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for storage media?
The HS code for storage media is heading 8523. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8523.80 (58% of the value) and 8523.52 (29%).
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
Storage media product types in Kenya
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