Import shoes from China to Kenya
Indicative duty ~25% (HS 64). 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.
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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: Shoes to Kenya
For a typical shoes order into Kenya — 400 units at ¥55 each (240 kg, sea freight) — the duty falls in the 25% band, on top of which sit 16% VAT, IDF, RDL. That lands at roughly KSh755,026, or KSh1,888 per unit (~$14), an effective burden near 50% of the CIF value. Against a local retail of KSh2,619 to KSh4,191, gross margin runs about 55-28%. This order Kenya has no de-minimis, so any value pays full duty.
A realistic order: 400 units at ¥55 each (240 kg, 1.6 CBM, sea).
Is it worth importing?
At a landed KSh1,895 per unit, against a typical local retail of KSh2,630 to KSh4,209, gross margin is roughly 55-28%. Indicative; real retail varies by market and channel.
QC check. Flex-test the sole bond, confirm true-to-size against a worn reference pair, and verify the upper material matches the declared spec (it drives both price and duty).
Footwear is a protected finished good in most corridors and frequently sits in the top band, sometimes with anti-dumping stacked on Chinese origin.
HS classification trap. Footwear is classified by upper material: leather (HS 6403) versus textile/synthetic (HS 6404) can carry different rates, and Chinese footwear faces anti-dumping duties in some markets.
Indicative, not a quote. Example inputs are typical for the product class; duty and FX sampled 2026-06-07.
Buying shoes on 1688
Typical 1688 search terms: sneakers, sandals, canvas shoes, slippers. 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 shoes in Kenya?
Indicative duty for shoes is about 25% (HS hint HS 64). With Kenya's VAT and levy stack the effective burden is roughly 50%. Verify the exact rate with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
What does shoes 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: sneakers, sandals, canvas shoes, slippers. 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.