Import auto parts from China to Kenya
Indicative duty ~25% (HS 8708). Work out the all-in landed cost below.
China to Kenya, all-in
Indicative, not a quote. Duty bands, FX and freight are estimates sampled 2026-06-07. Confirm the exact HS duty with Kenya customs and freight with a forwarder.
Get today's exact rate + the 2026 China Import Cost Cheat-Sheet by email
We will email you the live CNY rate and our import cost cheat-sheet. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Today's yuan to Kenya rate
Indicative, not a quote. The band is typical of agent/payment pricing.
| CNY | At mid rate | What you actually pay |
|---|---|---|
| ¥1,000 | KSh19,130 | KSh19,800 |
| ¥10,000 | KSh191,300 | KSh197,995 |
| ¥100,000 | KSh1,913,000 | KSh1,979,955 |
The FX leg is often the difference between a profitable order and a loss. The mid-market rate is the reference; what you actually pay to settle into a Chinese supplier's account sits 1.5–3.5% above it. On a large payment that spread can outweigh the agent fee, so it is worth comparing rates the day you pay.
Worked example: Auto Parts to Kenya
For a typical auto parts order into Kenya — 150 units at ¥205 each (180 kg, sea freight) — the duty falls in the 25% band, on top of which sit 16% VAT, IDF, RDL. That lands at roughly KSh985,679, or KSh6,571 per unit (~$48), an effective burden near 50% of the CIF value. Against a local retail of KSh7,811 to KSh13,668, gross margin runs about 52-16%. This order Kenya has no de-minimis, so any value pays full duty.
A realistic order: 150 units at ¥205 each (180 kg, 0.6 CBM, sea).
Is it worth importing?
At a landed KSh6,599 per unit, against a typical local retail of KSh7,843 to KSh13,726, gross margin is roughly 52-16%. Indicative; real retail varies by market and channel.
QC check. Match the exact OE part number and vehicle/year, confirm material grade (a brake pad's friction spec, a filter's media), and demand a fitment sample before a full order.
Auto parts usually sit in an intermediate band as inputs, but the sub-line and any assembler concession move the effective rate more than the headline 8708 number.
HS classification trap. Many parts share HS 8708 but sit on different sub-lines at different rates, and assembler/CKD concessions can cut the rate sharply for registered local assemblers, a status traders cannot claim.
Indicative, not a quote. Example inputs are typical for the product class; duty and FX sampled 2026-06-07.
Buying auto parts on 1688
Typical 1688 search terms: car accessories, brake pad, car LED, spare parts. Indicative EAC CET band for Kenya. Verify exact HS via KRA. Sourced 2026-06-07.
All Kenya categories →Frequently asked questions
What duty applies to auto parts in Kenya?
Indicative duty for auto parts is about 25% (HS hint HS 8708). With Kenya's VAT and levy stack the effective burden is roughly 50%. Verify the exact rate with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
What does auto parts cost to import from China?
It depends on unit price, quantity, agent fee and freight. Use the calculator above for an all-in landed cost in KES.
What should I search for on 1688?
Common terms for this category: car accessories, brake pad, car LED, spare parts. Pair these with a sourcing agent if you cannot read Chinese.
Are these numbers official?
No. Duty, FX and freight here are indicative estimates sampled 2026-06-07. Confirm with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and a forwarder before paying.
Last updated: 2026-06-07.
Wanjiru covers the Kenya–China trade route end to end: EAC Common External Tariff bands, the IDF and Railway Development Levy that sit on every CIF value, and the payment rails (from M-Pesa funding to B2B settlement) that move shillings to yuan. She writes for Nairobi's import traders who need the real all-in cost.