China–Kenya Bilateral Trade 2026
China–Kenya trade reached $9.5B in January–September 2026, +25.5% year on year. China exported $9.3B and imported $184M.
Source: GACC Monthly · USD Data as of: September 2026 Coverage 2018-01–2026-09
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Leading commodity chapters across the available monthly history — darker cells show higher trade value. Hover any cell for detail.
Top China Exports to Kenya
| HS chapter | Jan–Sep 2026 | Share | YoY | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 85Electrical machinery and electronics | $1.7B | 18.4% | +60.6% | $1.5B |
| HS 84Machinery and mechanical appliances | $961M | 10.3% | +27.2% | $1.0B |
| HS 87Vehicles and parts | $828M | 8.9% | +58.3% | $740M |
| HS 39Plastics and articles thereof | $743M | 8.0% | +20.3% | $800M |
| HS 72Iron and steel | $626M | 6.7% | +39.5% | $629M |
| HS 94Furniture, bedding and lighting | $366M | 3.9% | +16.7% | $431M |
| HS 62Apparel, not knitted or crocheted | $348M | 3.7% | +8.0% | $421M |
| HS 73Articles of iron or steel | $315M | 3.4% | -3.7% | $435M |
| HS 61Apparel, knitted or crocheted | $275M | 3.0% | +11.1% | $335M |
| HS 64Footwear | $241M | 2.6% | +5.6% | $311M |
Top HS4 products, Jan–Sep 2026
| HS4 product | Jan–Sep 2026 | Share | YoY | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 8541Semiconductor devices | $481M | 5.1% | +898.5% | Not in Top 20 |
| HS 7208Hot-rolled steel, wide, flat | $319M | 3.4% | +30.3% | $345M |
| HS 8517Telecommunications equipment | $308M | 3.3% | +34.1% | $321M |
| HS 6204Women's or girls' suits, ensembles | $219M | 2.4% | +10.4% | $260M |
| HS 8701Tractors | $193M | 2.1% | +119.6% | $130M |
| HS 8429Self-propelled bulldozers, excavators | $182M | 1.9% | +245.0% | Not in Top 20 |
| HS 3907Polyacetals, polyethers, epoxies and polyesters | $173M | 1.9% | +25.4% | $184M |
| HS 8708Parts for motor vehicles | $165M | 1.8% | +34.3% | $167M |
| HS 4011New pneumatic rubber tyres | $158M | 1.7% | +6.9% | $191M |
| HS 8704Motor vehicles for transport of goods | $151M | 1.6% | +177.5% | Not in Top 20 |
Top China Imports from Kenya
| HS chapter | Jan–Sep 2026 | Share | YoY | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 74Copper | $75.8M | 41.1% | -14.2% | $107M |
| HS 09Coffee, tea and spices | $31.1M | 16.9% | +43.8% | $24.5M |
| HS 03Fish and seafood | $17.7M | 9.6% | +81.7% | $14.3M |
| HS 08Fruit and nuts | $14.3M | 7.8% | -2.5% | $19.9M |
| HS 13Gums, resins and plant extracts | $14.0M | 7.6% | +160.2% | $8.9M |
| HS 15Fats and oils | $12.2M | 6.6% | +598.0% | $1.8M |
| HS 53Other vegetable textile fibres | $3.7M | 2.0% | +55.5% | $3.6M |
| HS 41Raw hides, skins and leather | $3.1M | 1.7% | +53.1% | $2.9M |
| HS 26Ores, slag and ash | $3.0M | 1.6% | -86.9% | $25.7M |
| HS 76Aluminium | $1.9M | 1.0% | +1608.0% | Not in Top 20 |
Top HS4 products, Jan–Sep 2026
| HS4 product | Jan–Sep 2026 | Share | YoY | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 7404Copper waste and scrap | $74.9M | 40.6% | -14.7% | $106M |
| HS 0901Coffee, coffee husks and coffee substitutes | $20.9M | 11.3% | +132.7% | $9.2M |
| HS 1301Lac, gum arabic, natural gums and resins | $13.7M | 7.4% | +194.2% | $7.8M |
| HS 1515Linseed, maize, castor, sesame and other oils | $12.2M | 6.6% | +598.0% | $1.8M |
| HS 0902Tea, green and black | $10.2M | 5.5% | -19.2% | $15.2M |
| HS 0804Dates, figs, pineapples, avocados and mangoes | $10.1M | 5.5% | +68.6% | $6.9M |
| HS 0306Crustaceans | $6.6M | 3.6% | +4.3% | $9.4M |
| HS 0307Molluscs | $6.4M | 3.5% | — | Not in Top 20 |
| HS 0802Other nuts, fresh or dried | $4.1M | 2.2% | -52.3% | $13.0M |
| HS 0305Dried, salted, smoked or brined fish | $4.0M | 2.1% | +14.5% | $4.9M |
Fast-Growing China Export Products to Kenya
Jan–Sep 2026 vs Jan–Sep 2025 · USD · ranked by USD increase
259 products qualify
- 1 Photovoltaic cells not assembled in modules or made up into panelsHS 854142 Exports$399M Increase+$397M YoY+15,652%
- 2 Other petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (other than crude) and preparations thereof, not elsewhere specified or includedHS 271019 Exports$126M Increase+$122M YoY+3,916%
- 3 With only compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel)HS 870121 Exports$184M Increase+$101M YoY+123%
- 4 Semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel containing, by weight less than 0.25 % of carbon, of square or rectangular cross-section, the width measuring < twice the thicknessHS 720711 Exports$139M Increase+$78.3M YoY+130%
- 5 Machinery with a 360° revolving superstructureHS 842952 Exports$111M Increase+$78.2M YoY+242%
- 6 SmartphonesHS 851713 Exports$179M Increase+$61.2M YoY+52%
China–Kenya Annual Trade and Year-to-Date Totals
USD| Period | China exports | China imports | Total trade | China balance | Total vs prior period | Partner rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD (Jan–Sep) | $9.3B | $184M | $9.5B | +$9.2B | +25.5% | No. 68 |
| 2025 (full year) | $10.1B | $226M | $10.3B | +$9.8B | +16.6% | No. 70 |
| 2024 (full year) | $8.6B | $237M | $8.8B | +$8.3B | +8.8% | No. 74 |
| 2023 (full year) | $7.9B | $228M | $8.1B | +$7.6B | -1.6% | No. 74 |
| 2022 (full year) | $8.0B | $269M | $8.2B | +$7.7B | +20.7% | No. 70 |
| 2021 (full year) | $6.6B | $226M | $6.8B | +$6.4B | +22.7% | No. 72 |
| 2020 (full year) | $5.4B | $151M | $5.6B | +$5.3B | +7.2% | No. 71 |
| 2019 (full year) | $5.0B | $179M | $5.2B | +$4.8B | -3.4% | No. 75 |
| 2018 (full year) | $5.2B | $174M | $5.4B | +$5.0B | — | No. 75 |
About China–Kenya trade and frequently asked questions
What was China's trade with Kenya in Jan–Sep 2026?
In January–September 2026, China–Kenya goods trade totaled $9.5B: China exported $9.3B and imported $184M, a China trade surplus of $9.2B (+25.5% vs the same months of 2025). Kenya ranked No. 68 among China's trading partners.
What was China's trade with Kenya in 2025?
In 2025, China–Kenya goods trade totaled $10.3B: China exported $10.1B and imported $226M, a China trade surplus of $9.8B (+16.6% vs 2024). Kenya ranked No. 70 among China's trading partners.
What was China's trade with Kenya in 2024?
In 2024, China–Kenya goods trade totaled $8.8B: China exported $8.6B and imported $237M, a China trade surplus of $8.3B (+8.8% vs 2023). Kenya ranked No. 74 among China's trading partners.
What does China export to Kenya?
In January–September 2026, China's leading exports to Kenya by HS chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85, $1.7B, 18.4% of the total); Machinery and mechanical appliances (HS 84, $961M, 10.3% of the total); Vehicles and parts (HS 87, $828M, 8.9% of the total). The largest HS4 products were Semiconductor devices (HS 8541, $481M); Hot-rolled steel, wide, flat (HS 7208, $319M); Telecommunications equipment (HS 8517, $308M).
What does China export to Kenya in 2025?
In 2025, China's leading exports to Kenya by HS chapter were Electrical machinery and electronics (HS 85, $1.5B, 14.6% of the total); Machinery and mechanical appliances (HS 84, $1.0B, 10.4% of the total); Plastics and articles thereof (HS 39, $800M, 8.0% of the total). The largest HS4 products were Hot-rolled steel, wide, flat (HS 7208, $345M); Telecommunications equipment (HS 8517, $321M); Women's or girls' suits, ensembles (HS 6204, $260M).
What does China import from Kenya?
In January–September 2026, China's leading imports from Kenya by HS chapter were Copper (HS 74, $75.8M, 41.1% of the total); Coffee, tea and spices (HS 09, $31.1M, 16.9% of the total); Fish and seafood (HS 03, $17.7M, 9.6% of the total). The largest HS4 products were Copper waste and scrap (HS 7404, $74.9M); Coffee, coffee husks and coffee substitutes (HS 0901, $20.9M); Lac, gum arabic, natural gums and resins (HS 1301, $13.7M).
What is China’s trade balance with Kenya?
China's goods trade balance with Kenya was +$9.2B in January–September 2026, compared with +$7.2B in the same months of 2025. 2025: +$9.8B. A negative balance is a China trade deficit.
Where can I download China–Kenya trade data?
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Source
Source
Source: China General Administration of Customs (GACC)
Citation
Citation
China Kenya bilateral trade data, monthly. General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC). https://chinadata.live/china-trade/kenya/, accessed 2026-11-10.