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Kenya Import Duty Rate for Steel Flat Products

HS 7208–7211 · Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel

Kenya MFN Import Duty Rate

Live

0–10%

on CIF value

Steel inputs typically 0%. Finished steel products 10–25%.

Rate varies — verify exact HS subheading at the official tariff schedule.

How duty is calculated

CIF value

Product cost + international freight + insurance

Import duty (0–10%)

Applied to CIF value. EU, UK, and most countries use CIF.

VAT (16%)

Applied to CIF value + duty. Collected at customs.

Use our Landed Cost Calculator to compute the full cost including freight, brokerage, and last-mile delivery.

Worked example: steel flat products worth US$10,000

A commercial shipment invoiced at US$10,000 with US$900 of international freight and insurance. Kenya charges duty on the CIF value (goods + freight + insurance), so the duty base is US$10,900. Customs converts the amount to KES at the official exchange rate on the day of import.

Charge	At 0%	At 10%
Import duty	$0	$1,090
Import Declaration Fee (3.5%)	$382	$382
Railway Development Levy (2.5%)	$273	$273
VAT (16%)	$1,849	$2,023
Total paid at the border	$2,503	$3,767

VAT is usually recoverable for a registered business, so the cost that stays with you is the duty and levies. The rate depends on the exact subheading, which is why the example shows both ends of the 0–10% range. Excise, anti-dumping duties and broker fees are not included.

Classifying steel flat products correctly

Headings 7208–7212 cover flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel — hot-rolled (7208), cold-rolled (7209), coated (7210) and narrow strip (7211–7212).

Width (600 mm and over vs under) splits 7208–7210 from 7211–7212
Alloy steel goes to 7219–7226
The coating (zinc, tin, aluminium-zinc) decides the 7210 subheading

Compliance. Steel is one of the most trade-remedied products: Section 232 in the US, EU and UK safeguard quotas, anti-dumping duties in most markets, and CBAM in the EU.

Importing into Kenya: what you need

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) clears goods through the iCMS system; duty follows the East African Community Common External Tariff.

Registration. A KRA PIN for the importer and a licensed clearing agent for commercial consignments.

Low-value shipments. Small personal parcels may be cleared through simplified postal or courier procedures, but commercial imports pay the full EAC duty, IDF and RDL.

Documents customs will ask for

Import Declaration Form (lodged before shipment)
Commercial invoice and packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
KEBS Certificate of Conformity (PVoC) for regulated products
Certificate of origin for EAC, COMESA or AfCFTA preference

Charges on top of duty

Import Declaration Fee: 3.5% of customs value
Railway Development Levy: 2.5% of customs value
VAT 16% on value + duty + levies
Excise duty on vehicles, alcohol, cosmetics and other listed goods

Watch out. Used vehicles must be under eight years from the year of first registration to be imported, and they pay excise on top of the 25% duty.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty rate for Steel Flat Products in Kenya?

The MFN (Most Favoured Nation) import duty rate for Steel Flat Products (HS 7208–7211) in Kenya is 0–10% on the CIF value. Steel inputs typically 0%. Finished steel products 10–25%.

Is VAT charged on Steel Flat Products imports to Kenya?

Yes. Kenya charges VAT at 16% on the CIF value plus any import duty. This applies to virtually all commercial imports.

Are there FTA rates available for Steel Flat Products in Kenya?

Kenya has free trade agreements with EAC (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC), COMESA, AfCFTA. Check whether your origin country qualifies for a preferential rate on HS 7208–7211.

How is import duty calculated for Steel Flat Products entering Kenya?

Duty is calculated on the CIF value of the goods. CIF value includes the product cost, international freight, and insurance. The MFN duty of 0–10% is applied to this value. VAT (16%) is then applied on the duty-paid value.