Market research

Wood charcoal market in Kenya

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Kenya's wood charcoal market began the period with production of 1 237 thous. t in 2018. Despite local bans, such as in Kitui County, and increased police patrols targeting transporters, output expanded to 1 279 thous. t in 2019. A decline to 1 208 thous. t followed in 2020.

The market rebounded sharply in 2021, with production jumping to 1 366 thous. t. This increase was primarily driven by President Ruto's decision to lift the national moratorium on logging, which improved wood availability for charcoal production. Growth continued steadily to 1 412 thous. t in 2022 and 1 460 thous. t in 2023, supported by persistent high demand. During 2023, the government announced new regulations for commercial charcoal producers, including mandatory bag labeling, aiming to introduce more oversight into the sector.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Kenya
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production wood charcoal in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Kenya ranked 14th globally in wood charcoal production from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood charcoal, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

After two years of growth, wood charcoal production in Kenya declined. In 2020, Kenya produced 1 208 thousand tons of wood charcoal, marking a moderate decrease of 5.6% compared to 2019. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 1 279 thousand tons, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 3.4% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.4%	3.4%	(5.6%)	0.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood charcoal from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout this period. Export levels fluctuated significantly, with a 72-fold difference between the peak in 2017 and the low in 2019. In 2020, Kenya exported 49.8 tons of wood charcoal, representing a substantial 528.7% increase compared to 2019. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 7.9 tons, and the largest decline occurred in 2018 with an 88.6% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(88.6%)	(87.9%)	528.7%	(55.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya's wood charcoal exports were heavily concentrated on the United Arab Emirates, which accounted for 75.7% of total flows. Other countries together made up the remaining share.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market during these years. Exports reached their peak in 2017 before falling to their lowest point in 2018, showing a 12.5-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Kenya exported 39.4 thousand US dollars worth of wood charcoal, indicating a sharp gain of 175.1% compared to the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 13.5 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline also occurring in 2018 at 92.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(92.0%)	6.0%	175.1%	(38.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Arab Emirates (57.5% of exports in value terms), the United States (13.2%), and Saudi Arabia (7.1%) were the principal buyers of wood charcoal from Kenya. Together, these three countries accounted for 77.9% of total exports in value terms.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wood charcoal to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

Wood charcoal imports into Kenya increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 95.5 tons, showing a sharp advance of 56.3% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 6 135.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 296.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1 824.5%	107.3%	56.3%	296.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Tanzania (38.1% of imports in kind), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (25.6%), and China (19.1%) were the key partners for Kenya's wood charcoal imports. Together, these three countries accounted for 82.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Imported wood charcoal volumes in Kenya increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Kenya imported 46.3 thousand US dollars worth of wood charcoal, indicating a rise of 8.5% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 710.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 100.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	418.0%	44.3%	8.5%	100.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China (24.3% of imports in value terms), Tanzania (22.7%), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (17.5%) were the main markets for wood charcoal imports into Kenya. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 64.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io