Tobacco leaf imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $12.9 million of tobacco leaf in 2024 (5.1 thousand tonnes). That is 49% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 36% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2018, at $53.9 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 | $12.9M | 5.1K t |
| 2023 | $25.2M | 5.8K t |
| 2022 | $36.3M | 10.1K t |
| 2021 | $33.0M | 9.0K t |
| 2020 | $16.7M | 6.9K t |
| 2019 | $46.3M | 20.0K t |
| 2018 | $53.9M | 20.2K t |
| 2017 | $1.5M | 2.7K t |
Where Kenya imports tobacco leaf from
One supplier dominates: Zimbabwe accounted for 84% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Pakistan grew fastest (+322% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | $10.8M | 84% |
| Pakistan | $1.2M | 9.4% |
| India | $524K | 4.1% |
| South Africa | $102K | 0.8% |
| Brazil | $90K | 0.7% |
| Mozambique | $77K | 0.6% |
| Tanzania | $69K | 0.5% |
| Uganda | $0K | 0% |
Product types under HS 2401
| 2401.20 | Tobacco: partly or wholly stemmed or stripped | 97% |
| 2401.30 | Tobacco waste | 3.1% |
| 2401.10 | Tobacco, (not stemmed or stripped) | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2401.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.51 per kg, 58% below the world average of $5.95, 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.
Tobacco leaf exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $6.0 million of tobacco leaf in 2024 (1.6 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Netherlands (50%), Angola (24%), Philippines (5%). Among the main buyer markets, Netherlands grew fastest (+114% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $3.0M | 50% |
| Angola | $1.4M | 24% |
| Philippines | $325K | 5.5% |
| Belgium | $257K | 4.3% |
| Sudan | $180K | 3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $133K | 2.2% |
| Cambodia | $118K | 2% |
| Russia | $100K | 1.7% |
| Jordan | $95K | 1.6% |
| Germany | $95K | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya tobacco leaf imports (HS 2401): 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 2401: Tobacco, unmanufactured; tobacco refuse.
Common questions
What is the value of tobacco leaf imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported tobacco leaf worth $12.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 5.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 70th of 172 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 49% on 2023.
Which countries supply tobacco leaf to Kenya?
Zimbabwe was the largest supplier with 84% of the value ($10.8 million), followed by Pakistan (9%) and India (4%). The top three together account for 97%, out of 8 supplier countries in total. Pakistan grew fastest among the top ten, up 322% on the year.
What is the average import price of tobacco leaf per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.51 per kg in 2024, 58% below the world average of $5.95 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of tobacco leaf to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.5 million in 2017 to $12.9 million in 2024, an increase of 780%. The peak was 2018 at $53.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $28.2 million a year.
Does Kenya also export tobacco leaf?
Yes. Kenya exported $6.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the Netherlands, Angola and the Philippines. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $6.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for tobacco leaf?
The HS code for tobacco leaf is heading 2401. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 2401.20 (97% of the value) and 2401.30 (3%).
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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