Kenya is East & Central Africa’s largest importer of plastics in primary forms

Since Kenya only produces 1% of its required plastic raw materials itself and imports 99% (mainly from the Middle East, Europe and Asia), Kenya has great potential for exporters of plastics in primary forms.

Imports of plastics raw materials, for instance, grew by 10.4% annually between 2007 and 2017, from 166 kt to 448 kt, +170%.

Source: EUROMAP

Kenya’s per capita plastics consumption on the up

The  per  capita  consumption  of  plastics  in  Kenya has  grown  by 6.55%  annually over the past years, from 4.4 kg in 2007 to 9.8 kg in 2018 and is estimated to be 11.4 kg in 2022.

Source: EUROMAP

Kenya’s plastics consumption by application 2018

51% of consumption is accounted for by packaging, 22% by construction, 5% by automotive, 3% by electrical, electronics & telecom, the remainder by various industries..

Source: EUROMAP

Kenya’s plastics consumption by processing method 2018

In plastics processing, extrusion is in the lead with 50%, followed by injection molding with 23%, blow molding with 10% and PET preform & stretch blow molding with 9%.

Source: EUROMAP

Kenya’s plastics consumption – Strong and steady increase

The country‘s plastics consumption has grown by by 9.1% annually over the past years, from 165 kt in 2007 to 473 kt in 2018 and is estimated to be 610 kt in 2022.

Source: EUROMAP

Kenya is the largest importer of plastics technology in East & Central Africa

• Kenya’s imports of plastics technology have grown at a rate of 3.7% between 2014 and 2020
• With imports of 36 million euros in 2020, Kenya is the largest importer of plastics technology in East & Central Africa

Source: VDMA

Kenya is the largest importer of packaging technology in East & Central Africa

• Kenya’s imports of packaging technology have grown by 15.4% between 2012 and 2018
• With imports of 45 million euros in 2018, Kenya is the largest importer of packaging technology in East & Central Africa

Source: VDMA

Kenya is the largest importer of printing machinery in East and Central Africa

• Kenya’s imports of printing and paper converting technology have grown at an annual rate of 15.9% between 2013 and 2019.
• With imports of 46 million euros in 2019, Kenya is the largest importer of such technology in East & Central Africa.

Source: VDMA