Sugar imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported sugar worth $201.0 million (312.4 thousand tonnes). That is 58% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 7% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $475.6 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 | $201.0M | 312.4K t |
| 2023 | $475.6M | 678.2K t |
| 2022 | $281.3M | 445.6K t |
| 2021 | $251.4M | 458.2K t |
| 2020 | $302.9M | 533.4K t |
| 2019 | $321.8M | 584.6K t |
| 2018 | $164.6M | 391.2K t |
| 2017 | $322.5M | 745.5K t |
Where Kenya imports sugar from
The largest suppliers were Mauritius (22%), India (21%), Uganda (11%). Among the main suppliers, Mauritius grew fastest (+40% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | $43.7M | 22% |
| India | $41.4M | 21% |
| Uganda | $22.7M | 11% |
| United Arab Emirates | $19.8M | 9.8% |
| Brazil | $19.5M | 9.7% |
| Saudi Arabia | $18.3M | 9.1% |
| Egypt | $13.5M | 6.7% |
| Thailand | $11.8M | 5.9% |
| Eswatini | $3.2M | 1.6% |
| Madagascar | $2.6M | 1.3% |
Product types under HS 1701
| 1701.99 | Pure sucrose | 81% |
| 1701.14 | Other raw cane sugar | 18% |
| 1701.13 | Centrifugal cane sugar | 0.8% |
| 1701.91 | Flavoured sucrose | 0.6% |
| 1701.12 | Raw beet sugar | 0% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 1701.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.64 per kg, close to the world average of $0.59.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Sugar exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $1.8 million of sugar in 2024 (1.7 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to India (40%), Tanzania (28%), Rwanda (14%). Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $707K | 40% |
| Tanzania | $503K | 28% |
| Rwanda | $249K | 14% |
| Uganda | $129K | 7.3% |
| DR Congo | $91K | 5.2% |
| Zambia | $53K | 3% |
| Malawi | $36K | 2% |
| South Sudan | $4K | 0.2% |
| Burundi | $1K | 0.1% |
| Singapore | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya sugar imports (HS 1701): 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 1701: Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form.
Common questions
What is the value of sugar imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported sugar worth $201.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 312.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 56th of 223 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 58% on 2023.
Which countries supply sugar to Kenya?
Mauritius was the largest supplier with 22% of the value ($43.7 million), followed by India (21%) and Uganda (11%). The top three together account for 54%, out of 25 supplier countries in total. Mauritius grew fastest among the top ten, up 40% on the year.
What is the average import price of sugar per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.64 per kg in 2024, 8% above the world average of $0.59 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of sugar to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $322.5 million in 2017 to $201.0 million in 2024, a fall of 38%. The peak was 2023 at $475.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $290.1 million a year.
Does Kenya also export sugar?
Yes. Kenya exported $1.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to India, Tanzania and Rwanda. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $199.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for sugar?
The HS code for sugar is heading 1701. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 1701.99 (81% of the value) and 1701.14 (18%).
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.
Same product, other countries
Sugar product types in Kenya
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