Soap imports in Uganda: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of soap by Uganda reached $33.2 million in 2024 (27.0 thousand tonnes). That is 50% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 59% 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 | $33.2M | 27.0K t |
| 2023 | $22.1M | 15.9K t |
| 2022 | $16.9M | 9.7K t |
| 2021 | $11.2M | 8.7K t |
| 2020 | $9.2M | 6.6K t |
| 2019 | $9.2M | 6.0K t |
| 2018 | $9.1M | 5.9K t |
| 2017 | $1.3M | 976 t |
Where Uganda imports soap from
Kenya alone supplied 78% of it. Among the main suppliers, Kenya grew fastest (+56% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | $25.8M | 78% |
| Indonesia | $2.8M | 8.4% |
| Egypt | $899K | 2.7% |
| China | $823K | 2.5% |
| Malaysia | $547K | 1.7% |
| United Arab Emirates | $479K | 1.4% |
| South Africa | $309K | 0.9% |
| United Kingdom | $223K | 0.7% |
| Turkey | $219K | 0.7% |
| Spain | $152K | 0.5% |
Product types under HS 3401
| 3401.19 | Industrial bar soap | 56% |
| 3401.11 | Toilet bar soap | 33% |
| 3401.20 | Liquid and cream soap | 7.8% |
| 3401.30 | Liquid skin wash | 3.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3401.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.23 per kg, 47% below the world average of $2.31, 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.
Soap exports from Uganda
Uganda exported $27.4 million of soap in 2024 (34.3 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: South Sudan accounted for 72% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, DR Congo grew fastest (+269% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Sudan | $19.8M | 72% |
| DR Congo | $5.9M | 22% |
| Tanzania | $1.3M | 4.7% |
| Rwanda | $186K | 0.7% |
| Kenya | $172K | 0.6% |
| Republic of the Congo | $25K | 0.1% |
| Zambia | $15K | 0.1% |
| Malawi | $7K | 0% |
| El Salvador | $2K | 0% |
| United States | $2K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Uganda?
The shipment records behind Uganda soap imports (HS 3401): 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 3401: Soap; organic surface-active preparations used as soap, skin washing, in bars, cakes, moulded pieces, shapes, liquid or cream, containing soap or not; for retail, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent.
Common questions
What is the value of soap imported by Uganda?
Uganda imported soap worth $33.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 27.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 83rd of 225 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was up 50% on 2023.
Which countries supply soap to Uganda?
Kenya was the largest supplier with 78% of the value ($25.8 million), followed by Indonesia (8%) and Egypt (3%). The top three together account for 89%, out of 59 supplier countries in total. Malaysia grew fastest among the top ten, up 349% on the year.
What is the average import price of soap per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.23 per kg in 2024, 47% below the world average of $2.31 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of soap to Uganda changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.3 million in 2017 to $33.2 million in 2024. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $14.0 million a year.
Does Uganda also export soap?
Yes. Uganda exported $27.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to South Sudan, the DR Congo and Tanzania. On balance Uganda is a net importer of this product, by about $5.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for soap?
The HS code for soap is heading 3401. In Uganda the largest six-digit codes were 3401.19 (56% of the value) and 3401.11 (33%).
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 Uganda. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
Soap product types in Uganda
More trade data for Uganda
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