Import beauty & cosmetics from China to Kenya
Indicative duty ~25% (HS 3303 / 3304). 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 | KSh19,120 | KSh19,789 |
| ¥10,000 | KSh191,200 | KSh197,892 |
| ¥100,000 | KSh1,912,000 | KSh1,978,920 |
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: Beauty & Cosmetics to Kenya
For a typical beauty & cosmetics order into Kenya — 1,000 units at ¥33 each (100 kg, air freight) — the duty falls in the 25% band, on top of which sit 16% VAT, IDF, RDL. That lands at roughly KSh1,068,545, or KSh1,069 per unit (~$8), an effective burden near 50% of the CIF value. Against a local retail of KSh1,857 to KSh4,953, gross margin runs about 78-42%. This order Kenya has no de-minimis, so any value pays full duty.
A realistic order: 1,000 units at ¥33 each (100 kg, 0.6 CBM, air).
Is it worth importing?
At a landed KSh1,072 per unit, against a typical local retail of KSh1,864 to KSh4,971, gross margin is roughly 78-42%. Indicative; real retail varies by market and channel.
QC check. The gate here is regulatory, not physical: confirm ingredient compliance and product registration with your market's authority, and check batch codes and shelf life before paying.
Cosmetics often carry a moderate duty band, but registration/standards compliance (and any schedule tax on luxury fragrance) is usually the binding constraint, not the rate.
HS classification trap. Make-up (HS 3304) and perfume (HS 3303) are separate lines, but the real trap is non-tariff: cosmetics often need pre-import registration that takes longer than the shipment.
Indicative, not a quote. Example inputs are typical for the product class; duty and FX sampled 2026-06-07.
Buying beauty & cosmetics on 1688
Typical 1688 search terms: lipstick, makeup set, lash, skincare. 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 beauty & cosmetics in Kenya?
Indicative duty for beauty & cosmetics is about 25% (HS hint HS 3303 / 3304). With Kenya's VAT and levy stack the effective burden is roughly 50%. Verify the exact rate with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
What does beauty & cosmetics 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: lipstick, makeup set, lash, skincare. 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.