SOURCING · KENYA · UGANDA · TANZANIA · RWANDA
Industrial chemicals: three checked supplier quotes
For factories, water utilities, mines, construction firms, farms and chemical distributors. Tell us what you need. We call you to confirm the spec, budget and timing, then pass your request to up to three suppliers who quote you directly. It’s free for buyers.
What you can ask for
- Caustic soda, flakes and lye
- Soda ash
- Surfactants (LABSA) for detergents
- Water treatment: calcium hypochlorite, aluminium sulphate
- Acids and solvents
- Pigments, resins and construction chemicals
- Mining reagents
Something else? Describe it in the request and we’ll tell you if we can find suppliers for it.
How it works
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1
You ask
Product, quantity, budget and when you need it. Two minutes.
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2
We call you
Within one working day, to confirm the spec and that you want to hear from suppliers.
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3
Suppliers quote
Up to three, so you can compare. Your details never go to more than three.
What the region imports
Largest products first: yearly imports into Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda combined (UN Comtrade). Open one for its countries and suppliers.
- Other diagnostic reagents and test kits $185.5M
- Other chemical preparations $99.3M
- Isocyanates $88.9M
- Other industrial fatty acids and acid oils $74.7M
- Bar soap and soap-impregnated wipes (non-toilet) $63.1M
- Caustic soda flakes and pearls (solid) $57.2M
- Glass frit and glass powder $52.8M
- Sodium cyanide $48.7M
- Mixed alkylbenzenes (LAB) $48.5M
- Lubricating oil additives (with petroleum) $46.4M
- Washing powders and detergent granules $45.5M
- Soda ash (sodium carbonate) $44.3M
- Ceramic glazes and enamels $37.5M
- Other diagnostic and laboratory reagents $35.1M
- Titanium dioxide pigment (high-TiO2) $32.7M
- Toilet soap bars $30.8M
- Detergents and cleaning preparations $29.4M
- Malaria diagnostic test kits $26.5M
- Penicillins (antibiotic ingredients) $24.2M
- Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) $21.2M
- Concrete and mortar additives $21.0M
- Sodium sulphate $20.3M
- Linear alkylbenzene sulphonic acid (LABSA) $20.1M
- Calcium carbonate $20.0M
- Refractory cements and castables $19.7M
- Other colouring preparations $19.5M
- Organic pigments $19.4M
- Industrial enzymes $18.2M
- Caustic soda liquid (soda lye) $18.1M
- Coloured printing ink $17.5M
- Mastics and painters' fillers $16.4M
- Rare gases (other than argon) $16.1M
- Paint thinners and composite solvents $15.0M
- Other anionic surfactants $12.8M
- Diagnostic and lab reagents (older code) $12.6M
- Paraformaldehyde $12.3M
- Titanium dioxide pigment preparations $11.9M
- Polymer and rubber-based adhesives $11.9M
- Other cyclic amides $11.3M
- Textile finishing agents $11.2M
How much the region imports
US$ million a year, as each country reported to UN Comtrade (latest year available). Click a figure for its source.
| Product | Kenya | Uganda | Tanzania | Rwanda | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caustic soda HS 281511, 281512 | 25.6 2023 | 16.2 2023 | 25.2 2023 | 8.4 2022 | 75.4 |
| Soda ash HS 283620 | 4.3 2023 | 10.7 2023 | 29.1 2023 | 0.1 2022 | 44.2 |
| Anionic surfactants (e.g. LABSA) HS 340211 | 13.2 2023 | 8.4 2023 | 11.3 2023 | 0.5 2022 | 33.4 |
| Calcium hypochlorite HS 282810 | 3.6 2023 | 0.7 2023 | 1.3 2023 | 0.2 2022 | 5.8 |
| Aluminium sulphate HS 283322 | 0.1 2023 | 3.1 2023 | 0.3 2023 | 0.2 2022 | 3.7 |
Who regulates imports
Checked 7 October 2026. Where we haven’t confirmed the rule from a published source yet, we say so.
| Country | Regulator and rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) Importers, distributors, transporters and users of industrial and consumer chemicals must be registered and hold a GCLA certificate before dealing in chemicals (Industrial and Consumer Chemicals Act No. 3 of 2003 and its 2020 Regulations). Registration is on the CCMP II portal. | GCLA, Registration process (December 2024) |
| Kenya | Not yet checked. Ask us in your request and we’ll find out before suppliers quote. | — |
| Uganda | Not yet checked. Ask us in your request and we’ll find out before suppliers quote. | — |
| Rwanda | Not yet checked. Ask us in your request and we’ll find out before suppliers quote. | — |
We check what every chemical is for and that you hold the licence it needs before any supplier hears about you. We don’t source drug precursors, explosives or pesticides.