Welding supplies imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
Kenya imported $7.6 million of welding supplies in 2024 (6.3 thousand tonnes). Value rose 16% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $11.1 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 | $7.6M | 6.3K t |
| 2023 | $6.6M | 5.9K t |
| 2022 | $7.8M | 5.3K t |
| 2021 | $7.8M | 5.7K t |
| 2020 | $9.5M | 9.5K t |
| 2019 | $7.9M | 7.3K t |
| 2018 | $11.1M | 9.4K t |
| 2017 | $7.5M | 7.0K t |
Where Kenya imports welding supplies from
China alone supplied 69% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $5.3M | 69% |
| India | $1.2M | 16% |
| Uganda | $324K | 4.3% |
| South Africa | $203K | 2.7% |
| Sweden | $163K | 2.1% |
| Malaysia | $101K | 1.3% |
| United States | $85K | 1.1% |
| Ireland | $65K | 0.9% |
| South Korea | $50K | 0.7% |
| Italy | $27K | 0.4% |
Product types under HS 8311
| 8311.10 | Coated arc welding electrodes | 80% |
| 8311.20 | Cored wire for arc welding | 12% |
| 8311.30 | Rods and wire for soldering and brazing | 5% |
| 8311.90 | Metal spraying wire and rods | 3.8% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 8311.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.21 per kg, 60% below the world average of $3.05, 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.
Welding supplies exports from Kenya
Exports of welding supplies by Kenya reached $469 thousand in 2024 (288 tonnes). Tanzania alone took 80% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Uganda grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | $373K | 80% |
| Uganda | $58K | 12% |
| Rwanda | $23K | 5% |
| Somalia | $4K | 0.9% |
| DR Congo | $4K | 0.8% |
| Burundi | $2K | 0.5% |
| South Sudan | $2K | 0.4% |
| Seychelles | $1K | 0.2% |
| Malawi | $1K | 0.1% |
| Mozambique | $1K | 0.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya welding supplies imports (HS 8311): 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 8311: Wires, rods, tubes, plates, electrodes of base metal or metal carbides; of a kind used for soldering, brazing, welding; wires and rods for metal spraying.
Common questions
What is the value of welding supplies imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported welding supplies worth $7.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 6.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 81st of 219 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 16% on 2023.
Which countries supply welding supplies to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 69% of the value ($5.3 million), followed by India (16%) and Uganda (4%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 34 supplier countries in total. Sweden grew fastest among the top ten, up 975% on the year.
What is the average import price of welding supplies per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.21 per kg in 2024, 60% below the world average of $3.05 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of welding supplies to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $7.5 million in 2017 to $7.6 million in 2024, an increase of 2%. The peak was 2018 at $11.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $8.2 million a year.
Does Kenya also export welding supplies?
Yes. Kenya exported $469 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $7.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for welding supplies?
The HS code for welding supplies is heading 8311. In Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 8311.10 (79% of the value) and 8311.20 (12%).
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
Welding supplies product types in Kenya
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