Worn clothing imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported worn clothing worth $210.1 million (234.4 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 3rd largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 214 countries. Value rose 12% on 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
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $210.1M | 234.4K t |
| 2023 | $187.2M | 197.5K t |
| 2022 | $178.6M | 177.9K t |
| 2021 | $176.8M | 182.0K t |
| 2020 | $113.8M | 121.3K t |
| 2019 | $177.3M | 181.4K t |
| 2018 | $150.6M | 149.4K t |
| 2017 | $121.2M | 109.9K t |
Where Kenya imports worn clothing from
China alone supplied 52% of it. Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest (+50% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $108.3M | 52% |
| United States | $29.1M | 14% |
| Pakistan | $21.1M | 10% |
| United Kingdom | $8.8M | 4.2% |
| Canada | $7.1M | 3.4% |
| India | $6.8M | 3.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $4.9M | 2.3% |
| Germany | $4.3M | 2% |
| Lithuania | $3.1M | 1.5% |
| Poland | $2.4M | 1.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.90 per kg, close to the world average of $0.91.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Worn clothing exports from Kenya
In 2024, Kenya exported worn clothing worth $937 thousand (1.7 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were DR Congo (28%), Rwanda (27%), Thailand (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Cyprus grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | $260K | 28% |
| Rwanda | $255K | 27% |
| Thailand | $119K | 13% |
| United Kingdom | $50K | 5.3% |
| Uganda | $42K | 4.5% |
| Cyprus | $37K | 3.9% |
| United States | $19K | 2% |
| Cameroon | $16K | 1.7% |
| Ethiopia | $14K | 1.5% |
| Egypt | $13K | 1.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya worn clothing imports (HS 6309): 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 6309: Textiles; worn clothing and other worn articles.
Common questions
What is the value of worn clothing imported by Kenya?
Kenya imported worn clothing worth $210.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 234.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 3rd of 214 countries worldwide, with 4% of world imports. The value was up 12% on 2023.
Which countries supply worn clothing to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 52% of the value ($108.3 million), followed by the United States (14%) and Pakistan (10%). The top three together account for 75%, out of 123 supplier countries in total. The United States grew fastest among the top ten, up 50% on the year.
What is the average import price of worn clothing per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.90 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $0.91 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of worn clothing to Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $121.2 million in 2017 to $210.1 million in 2024, an increase of 73%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $164.5 million a year.
Does Kenya also export worn clothing?
Yes. Kenya exported $937 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the DR Congo, Rwanda and Thailand. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $209.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for worn clothing?
The HS code for worn clothing is heading 6309. In Kenya all of this trade was declared under the six-digit code 6309.00. It sits in HS chapter 63 (textiles, made up articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 6309 page.
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
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