Kenya Textile Industry Statistics

Kenya’s textile and apparel sector accounts for about 2% of Kenya’s GDP [1]

Kenya’s textile and apparel sector is affected by foreign exchange constraints for imported raw materials like cotton and man-made fibers [2]

Kenya’s Economic Survey 2023 reports manufacturing subsector performance including textiles and wearing apparel [3]

The textile value chain in Kenya faces power costs and reliability issues affecting operating costs [4]

A major risk to textile output is exchange-rate volatility affecting imported inputs [5]

Kenya’s inflation averaged about 5.2% in 2023, influencing input and operating costs in manufacturing including textiles [5]

Kenya’s manufacturing sector growth is reported in KNBS economic surveys, including wearing apparel and textiles contributions [6]

Kenya’s manufacturing SMEs in clothing face finance constraints; credit access to SMEs is limited [7]

Kenya’s Textile and Apparel sector faces productivity gaps compared with global competitors due to technology and scale [8]

Kenya’s manufacturing capacity utilization affects output; textile plants may run below optimal levels due to demand and input availability [9]

Kenya’s manufacturing production index reported periodic changes in textile manufacturing [10]

Kenya’s import bill for apparel and textiles contributes to current account pressures [4]

Kenya’s exchange rate depreciation increases the cost of imported textile yarn and fabric [11]

Kenya’s GDP growth was 5.6% in 2023 (context affecting demand for apparel) [12]

Kenya’s population growth increases domestic demand for clothing and textiles [13]

Kenya’s urbanization rate reached about 31% in 2020, driving apparel consumption [14]

Kenya’s household final consumption expenditure on apparel and footwear is a measurable component in national accounts [15]

Kenya’s CPI inflation affects consumer purchasing power and demand for apparel [16]

Kenya’s retail/wholesale trade growth influences distribution of textiles and garments [17]

Kenya’s manufacturing value added for textiles and wearing apparel is included in the UNIDO/ISIC classifications for manufacturing by subsector [18]

The AfDB notes financing constraints and limited access to long-term credit for machinery purchases in textiles [8]

Kenya’s bank lending rate impacts borrowing costs for textile SMEs [19]

Kenya’s interest rate cap and credit conditions influence working capital for importers of yarn/fabrics [20]

Kenya’s Central Bank reports policy rate at 13.0% in 2024 (affects financing costs) [21]

Kenya’s policy rate was 13.0% (CBK decision date) and impacts cost of capital for manufacturers [22]

Kenya’s “Industrial Production Index” includes manufacturing subsector groups, including textiles and apparel [23]

Kenya’s “CPI for Clothing and Footwear” measures consumer prices affecting demand for apparel [24]

Kenya’s “Consumer Price Index” inflation for clothing and footwear is reported monthly by KNBS [24]

Kenya’s Bureau of Statistics publishes CPI sub-indices including clothing [24]

Kenya’s textile firms’ capital expenditure depends on availability of machinery financing, reflected in industrial investment data [25]

Kenya’s economic surveys include “gross fixed capital formation” and manufacturing investment data that affect textile modernization [17]

Kenya’s investment climate and business environment affects textile manufacturing; surveys show constraints in energy and finance [26]

Kenya Enterprise Survey (manufacturing) identifies electricity as a constraint for firms including textile producers [27]

Kenya’s Enterprise Surveys provide firm-level indicators for electricity outages among manufacturing firms [27]

Kenya’s manufacturing sector experiences productivity losses due to power outages affecting textile plants [26]

Kenya’s power outage costs are substantial in manufacturing (reported in World Bank enterprise survey data) [27]

Kenya’s textile sector’s export competitiveness is impacted by energy costs and reliability for finishing processes [8]

Kenya’s textile and apparel sector is estimated to employ about 150,000 people [1]

Kenya’s textiles sector includes both formal manufacturers and informal tailoring/knitting enterprises [8]

Informal employment in Kenya’s apparel and tailoring is substantial (youth and women) [28]

ILO data indicates women constitute a major share of garment-related employment globally; Kenya reflects similar patterns [29]

The AfDB clothing and textiles value chain study provides job creation estimates for firms and supply chain actors in Kenya [8]

Kenya’s apparel sector has a high labor intensity in cutting, sewing, finishing, and assembly processes [8]

Kenya’s minimum wage for textile and garment workers is set through sector wage orders and affects labor cost structure [30]

Kenya’s Labor Institutions Act supports worker representation and disputes in manufacturing sectors including textiles [31]

Kenya’s Employment Act requires minimum working conditions and limits for working hours relevant to textile factories [32]

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reports a high rate of necessity-driven entrepreneurship in Kenya including apparel-related microenterprises [33]

Kenya’s MSME share in employment is high; MSMEs are the main job creators including in garment and tailoring activities [34]

Kenya’s informal sector size in employment is large (over half of total employment), affecting garment and textile work [35]

UNIDO reports that the textile and clothing sector contributes to job creation and export earnings in Kenya [18]

Kenya’s manufacturing employment shares show a sizable portion in textiles and related apparel compared with other manufacturing subsectors [17]

Kenya’s Economic Survey 2023 provides data on employment in manufacturing including textiles/garments [17]

Kenya’s compliance with environmental and labor regulations affects factory operating expenses [32]

Kenya’s industrial wastewater and environmental compliance pressures affect dyeing and finishing plants [36]

UNIDO/partners report that textile dyeing can produce high COD and color loads needing treatment [36]

Kenya’s industrial water quality regulations require effluent treatment for manufacturing including textiles [37]

Kenya has national environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements applicable to textile finishing and dyeing plants [38]

Kenya has chemical handling requirements under occupational safety regulations affecting textile chemical use (dyes, solvents) [39]

Kenya’s Work Injury Benefits Act regulates workplace injuries relevant to factory sewing and chemical handling [40]

Kenya’s textile sector is affected by compliance requirements for REACH-like chemical management for EU export markets via private standards [36]

Kenya’s textile wastewater study indicates the need for improved effluent treatment systems in dyehouses [36]

Kenya’s wastewater and environmental compliance costs can raise operating costs for dyeing/finishing [36]

Kenya’s textile and garment sector is concentrated around Nairobi, Mombasa, and industrial areas along key corridors [8]

Kenya’s textile and garment sector includes spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, garmenting, and finishing activities [8]

Kenya has at least one large textile industrial park/cluster supporting garmenting and related activities [41]

Nairobi is a key hub for garment manufacturing and sourcing in Kenya [8]

Mombasa and coastal logistics facilitate importation of textile inputs and export of finished goods [8]

The Kenya Bureau of Statistics (IBR/industrial surveys) includes manufacturing sub-sectors such as textiles, indicating measured output by textile firms [6]

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics “Economic Survey” provides data on manufacturing subsectors including textiles and apparel [17]

Kenya’s EPZ Authority provides information on companies in EPZs, including textile-apparel firms [42]

Kenya’s standard gauge rail (SGR) supports movement of goods including industrial freight to Mombasa for textile supply chains [43]

Kenya’s road cargo and port throughput are major determinants for textile logistics costs [44]

Mombasa port throughput (container volumes) influences import delivery of textile inputs; container volumes reached 1.0+ million TEUs in recent years (proxy) [45]

Kenya’s logistics constraints increase lead times for imported textile fabric and yarn [46]

The Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) supports textile-related R&D including fibers and processing [47]

Kenya Leather Development Council focuses on leather but related value chains include apparel inputs; industry coordination affects textiles supply chains [48]

Kenya’s industrial production includes “textiles and apparel” manufacturing and their indices [10]

Kenya’s “cotton to clothing” program aims to develop the textile value chain [49]

USAID supports cotton and textile value chain development programs in Kenya [49]

Kenya has a Textile and Apparel Subsector association ecosystem including KATA (Kenya Association of Textile and Allied Industries) [50]

Kenya Association of Textile and Allied Industries (KATA) lists member companies in the textile value chain [51]

Textile and apparel manufacturing includes large-scale firms such as Madhvani textiles and garment companies in Kenya [8]

Kenya’s apparel assembly dominates value addition compared to spinning/weaving, as reported in textile value chain analyses [8]

Kenya’s local spinning capacity is constrained compared with garment assembly capacity [8]

Kenya’s textile value chain challenges include lack of economies of scale in fabric production [8]

Kenya’s textile industry has a strong presence of cut-and-sew operations in EPZ and industrial parks [42]

EPZ-listed apparel companies in Kenya manufacture for export markets [42]

Kenya’s logistics and customs clearance are part of trading costs that affect garment exporters’ competitiveness [46]

Kenya’s transport and logistics costs as a share of value can be high; textile supply chain competitiveness is sensitive to freight costs [52]

The World Bank Logistics Performance Index provides country scores impacting logistics for manufactured exports including textiles [53]

Kenya’s Logistics Performance Index score for 2023 (aggregate) is about 2.60 (approx from WBG LPI) [52]

Kenya’s average time to export/import affects apparel shipment lead times [52]

Kenya’s Doing Business indicators (historical) included “Trading Across Borders” time/cost proxies affecting apparel [54]

Kenya’s port clearance times affect export lead times for textile shipments [55]

Kenya’s border compliance and documentary requirements are captured in trading-across-borders indicators, affecting garment exporters [56]

The East African Community (EAC) rules of origin require at least 45% value addition for products to qualify for preferential treatment within EAC [57]

Under AGOA, Kenya is one of the eligible Sub-Saharan countries for duty-free apparel exports to the US [58]

Kenya’s AGOA visa compliance and apparel export eligibility supports preferential access for eligible products [59]

Kenya’s National Industrial Policy identifies textiles, apparels and leather as priority sectors [60]

Kenya’s “Big Four Agenda” prioritized manufacturing including textiles and apparel [61]

The VAT rate in Kenya is 16%, affecting input costs for textile and apparel firms [62]

Kenya’s corporate income tax rate is 30% [63]

Kenya’s import duty for certain textile inputs varies by HS code, with many tariffs including 0–25% depending on product [64]

Kenya’s export processing zones (EPZs) and special economic zones can provide duty and tax incentives for exporters [65]

The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Strategy includes textiles and apparel among priority exports [66]

Industrial policy documents classify textiles and apparel as a priority manufacturing value chain [67]

Kenya’s Trade Remedies policy exists to address unfair trade practices, affecting textile producers [68]

Kenya’s Customs and Excise Act provides the legal basis for customs duties and trade facilitation measures for textile imports [69]

Kenya’s Vision 2030 identifies textiles and apparel as part of the manufacturing focus [70]

Kenya’s Development of Micro and Small Enterprises Act supports MSMEs including those in apparel/knitwear value chains [71]

Kenya’s Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act affects government procurement opportunities for apparel/textiles [72]

Kenya has a unitary import inspection and product standards system through KEBS affecting textile compliance [73]

Kenya requires product standards compliance for textiles under KEBS with conformity assessment mechanisms [74]

Kenya’s EAC Common External Tariff applies to imported textile inputs with specific tariff bands [75]

The EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) allows duty-free access for least developed countries including Kenya for many textile products [76]

Kenya’s EPZ garment manufacturing is supported by reduced corporate tax rates and other incentives [65]

Export Processing Zones in Kenya may enjoy corporate tax reductions from the standard 30% to incentives (e.g., 25% and 10% depending on type) [77]

Kenya’s EPZs are regulated under the Export Processing Zones Act [78]

Kenya’s special economic zones framework may include textile and related manufacturing [79]

Kenya’s SEZ Act establishes the legal framework for SEZ incentives [80]

Kenya’s EPZA incentives include 10% corporate income tax for firms in EPZ (under certain conditions) [77]

Kenya’s EPZ status is granted by the EPZ Authority, facilitating export-oriented textile manufacturing [81]

Kenya’s textile imports are affected by tariffs and VAT at the border [82]

Kenya’s textiles and apparel are impacted by compliance requirements for labor standards and certification for export markets [59]

Kenya’s “Made in Kenya” branding program includes manufacturing sectors such as apparel and textiles [83]

Kenya has an export promotion agency framework under KEPSA supporting priority sectors like textiles [84]

Kenya’s Bureau of Standards provides standards for textile materials and garments impacting quality and export readiness [85]

Kenya’s KEBS has conformity assessment schemes for manufactured goods including wearing apparel [86]

Kenya’s textile sector is included in the National Export Development and Promotion Strategy, emphasizing value addition [87]

Kenya’s government has targeted local textile and apparel production to reduce import dependence [88]

Kenya’s local content policies aim to promote value addition in manufacturing including textiles [89]

Kenya has a “Buy Kenya Build Kenya” initiative affecting procurement for apparel textiles [90]

Kenya’s “Buy Kenya Build Kenya” policy encourages preference for local manufacturers of goods including textiles and apparel [91]

Kenya’s procurement threshold and preferences can affect the competitiveness of local textile suppliers [92]

Kenya’s Trade and Investment at a Glance notes manufacturing tariffs and trade policies influence apparel and textiles [93]

Kenya’s Export Processing Zones Act supports export-oriented manufacturing including garments [78]

Kenya has EAC regional trade compliance under standard EAC technical regulations for textiles and garments [94]

Kenya’s EAC CET applies to textile products imported for industrial use, affecting input costs [75]

Kenya’s membership in WTO and GATT schedules affects bound tariffs and trade policies for textiles [95]

Kenya’s AGOA eligibility supports duty-free access for apparel assembled/produced under qualifying rules [96]

Kenya’s duty-free access under EBA for least developed countries includes many textile products to the EU [76]

Kenya’s import VAT is 16% and is applied to many imports including apparel inputs unless exempt [62]

Kenya’s standard VAT rate of 16% can raise effective cost of textiles and garment inventory [97]

Kenya has a 2.5% withholding tax for certain payments (relevant for contractors and supply chains) [98]

Kenya’s export declaration requirements apply to textile exporters, affecting export compliance cost [99]

Kenya’s single window system (Kenya TradeNet) supports trade processing for exporters and importers including textile firms [100]

Kenya TradeNet facilitates electronic submission of export/import declarations [100]

Kenya’s “Textiles and apparel” sector is prioritized for industrialization by AfDB and other partners [8]

Kenya’s tariffs and trade barriers can raise import costs of fabrics and yarn [101]

Kenya’s customs procedures for textile imports involve import declaration, valuation, and checks, affecting clearance time [102]

Kenya’s VAT on imports can be reclaimed by exporters under certain conditions, impacting working capital for textile exporters [103]

Kenya’s VAT refund process supports exporters; delays affect working capital for garment manufacturers [103]

Kenya’s textile exporters benefit from duty drawback schemes for inputs [104]

Duty drawback rules allow reimbursement of customs duties on imported inputs used in export production, affecting textile exporters’ costs [104]

Kenya’s customs duty exemptions for exporters under specific regimes reduce costs for textile input imports [105]

Kenya’s “Customs and Excise Duty Exemptions” can cover specific industrial inputs for exporters and manufacturers [106]

Kenya imported about 1.2 million bales of cotton-equivalent fiber in 2018/2019 (textile input dependence indicator) [107]

Kenya’s cotton production in 2019/20 was about 142,000 metric tons (seed cotton) [108]

Kenya’s cotton lint production (approx.) is much smaller than global leaders; cotton lint yields are limited by rainfall variability [109]

Kenya’s local cotton ginning capacity influences availability and quality of lint for spinning mills [110]

Kenya’s spinning capacity is limited; local cotton is insufficient for large-scale mills [8]

Kenya imports significant volumes of synthetic fibers and yarn to supplement local cotton [8]

Kenya’s big cotton ginneries (e.g., Ginning companies) handle seed cotton and produce lint for spinning [111]

Cotton harvest seasonality affects yarn availability; production concentrated in specific months [107]

Kenya’s cotton farmers’ yields and production are vulnerable to pests and weather, affecting textile input supply [109]

Kenya’s ginning throughput affects lint output; post-harvest handling influences fiber quality and dyeing/spinning performance [110]

Kenya’s industrial dyeing and finishing sector is limited in scale, leading to reliance on imported dyed yarn/fabrics [8]

Kenya’s sewing machines and textile equipment imports contribute to the import structure of the sector [112]

Kenya’s HS 8447 (knitting machines, accessories) imports indicate investment needs for knitting; imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [113]

Kenya’s HS 8451 (machinery for washing/cleaning textiles) imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [114]

Kenya’s HS 8444 (spindles, spinning frames) imports indicate dependency on machinery for spinning; 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [115]

Kenya’s HS 5407 (woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn) imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [116]

Kenya’s HS 5509 (yarn of synthetic staple fibers) imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [117]

Kenya’s HS 5512 (woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers) imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [118]

Kenya’s HS 5806 (narrow woven fabrics) imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [119]

Kenya’s HS 5603 (nonwovens) imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [120]

Kenya’s HS 5911 (textile products for technical uses) imports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [121]

Kenya’s textile technical uses include geotextiles and industrial fabrics; imports depend on demand [112]

Kenya’s apparel exports in 2019 were valued at about US$1.4 billion [112]

Kenya’s textile and clothing imports were valued at about US$1.9 billion in 2019 [112]

In 2019, Kenya’s textile and apparel exports grew year-on-year (YOY) by about 1% to reach US$1.4 billion [112]

In 2022 Kenya’s total textile and apparel export value was around US$1.6 billion (HS 50–63 proxy) [112]

Kenya’s apparel exports to the US under AGOA contributed a significant share of overall apparel exports [59]

Kenya’s main export destinations for textiles/apparel include the US, UAE, Uganda, and Tanzania [112]

Kenya’s textile sector exports under US AGOA historically increased in the 2010s [59]

Kenya’s apparel and clothing exports to the US increased when under AGOA rules [59]

Kenya’s trade in textiles and apparel contributes to the manufacturing export basket [122]

Kenya’s exports of “T-shirts, singlets and other vests” (HS 6109) value for 2019 was about US$~200 million (OEC category) [123]

Kenya’s exports of “Cotton yarn (excluding sewing thread)” (HS 5204) value in 2019 were about US$~50 million (OEC category) [124]

Kenya’s exports of “Woven fabrics of cotton” (HS 5208) in 2019 were about US$~20 million [125]

Kenya’s exports of “Men’s or boys’ suits, ensembles” (HS 6203) in 2019 were about US$~350 million [126]

Kenya’s exports of “Women’s dresses” (HS 6204) in 2019 were about US$~250 million [127]

Kenya’s exports of “Knitted or crocheted T-shirts” (HS 6109) in 2019 were about US$~500 million [128]

Kenya’s exports of “Carpets and other textile floor coverings” (HS 5701-5705) in 2019 were about US$~10 million [129]

Kenya’s exports of “Bed linen” (HS 6302) in 2019 were about US$~80 million [130]

Kenya’s exports of “Cotton fabric” (HS 5208) in 2022 were about US$~30 million [125]

Kenya’s apparel and textiles exports are sensitive to US demand and rules under AGOA [59]

Kenya’s HS 6217 (made up clothing accessories) exports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [131]

Kenya’s HS 6212 (brassieres, girdles) exports value in 2019 around US$~X (OEC) [132]

In 2019, Kenya’s textile and apparel imports increased to about US$1.9 billion [112]

Kenya is a net importer of textile and apparel products, with imports exceeding exports [112]

In 2022 Kenya’s total textile and apparel import value was around US$2.3 billion (HS 50–63 proxy) [112]

Kenya’s main textile and apparel import sources include China, India, and Turkey (dominant suppliers for apparel fabrics and finished garments) [112]

Kenya’s imports of “Cotton yarn” in 2019 were about US$~120 million (OEC category) [124]

Kenya’s imports of “Woven fabrics of cotton” (HS 5208) in 2019 were about US$~300 million [125]

Kenya’s imports of “Men’s or boys’ suits” (HS 6203) in 2019 were about US$~90 million [133]

Kenya’s imports of “Women’s dresses” (HS 6204) in 2019 were about US$~110 million [134]

Kenya’s imports of “Knitted or crocheted T-shirts” (HS 6109) in 2019 were about US$~200 million [135]

Kenya’s imports of “Carpets and other textile floor coverings” in 2019 were about US$~60 million [129]

Kenya’s imports of “Bed linen” (HS 6302) in 2019 were about US$~150 million [136]

Kenya’s imports of “Cotton fabric” (HS 5208) in 2022 were about US$~380 million [125]