Technical textile imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $2.5 million of technical textile in 2024 (660 tonnes). That is 12% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 8% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.5M | 660 t |
| 2023 | $2.8M | 419 t |
| 2022 | $2.1M | 214 t |
| 2021 | $2.4M | 287 t |
| 2020 | $2.5M | 889 t |
| 2019 | $2.8M | 665 t |
| 2018 | $2.1M | 224 t |
| 2017 | $1.4M | 73 t |
Where Kenya imports technical textile from
The largest suppliers were China (30%), India (25%), Bangladesh (15%). Among the main suppliers, Bangladesh grew fastest (+208% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $750K | 30% |
| India | $617K | 25% |
| Bangladesh | $365K | 15% |
| United Arab Emirates | $128K | 5.1% |
| Germany | $86K | 3.4% |
| Switzerland | $84K | 3.3% |
| Malaysia | $83K | 3.3% |
| France | $66K | 2.6% |
| South Africa | $65K | 2.6% |
| Turkey | $54K | 2.1% |
Product types under HS 5911
| 5911.10 | Card clothing and technical fabric | 45% |
| 5911.90 | Technical textile (other articles) | 25% |
| 5911.32 | Paper machine heavy fabric | 15% |
| 5911.20 | Bolting cloth | 7.9% |
| 5911.40 | Oil press straining cloth | 5.1% |
| 5911.31 | Paper machine endless fabric | 2.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5911.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.81 per kg, 75% below the world average of $15.14, 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.
Technical textile exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $207 thousand of technical textile in 2024 (35 tonnes). Most of it went to Poland (31%), United Arab Emirates (26%), Somalia (20%). Among the main buyer markets, Somalia grew fastest (+871% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | $64K | 31% |
| United Arab Emirates | $54K | 26% |
| Somalia | $41K | 20% |
| Rwanda | $26K | 12% |
| DR Congo | $5K | 2.4% |
| Uganda | $4K | 1.8% |
| Italy | $3K | 1.7% |
| Ethiopia | $3K | 1.5% |
| South Sudan | $1K | 0.6% |
| United States | $1K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya technical textile imports (HS 5911): 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 5911: Textile products and articles for technical uses; specified in note 7 to this chapter.
Common questions
What is the value of technical textile imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported technical textile worth $2.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 660 tonnes. That ranks it 104th of 222 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 12% on 2023.
Which countries supply technical textile to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 30% of the value ($750 thousand), followed by India (25%) and Bangladesh (15%). The top three together account for 69%, out of 39 supplier countries in total. Bangladesh grew fastest among the top ten, up 208% on the year.
What is the average import price of technical textile per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.81 per kg in 2024, 75% below the world average of $15.14 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of technical textile to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.4 million in 2017 to $2.5 million in 2024, an increase of 76%. The peak was 2023 at $2.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.3 million a year.
Does Kenya also export technical textile?
Yes. Kenya exported $207 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Poland, the United Arab Emirates and Somalia. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $2.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for technical textile?
The HS code for technical textile is heading 5911. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 5911.10 (45% of the value) and 5911.90 (25%).
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.
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