Product 08 · Export from Kenya

Kenya Minerals & Gemstones Exporter

Kenya hosts world-famous coloured gemstones — notably tsavorite green garnet, first discovered in Taita Taveta — together with industrial minerals such as soda ash from Lake Magadi, and artisanal and small-scale gold.

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Raw green gemstone crystal on a dark surface

Overview

Mineral and gemstone exports are tightly regulated in Kenya under the Mining Act 2016. Every shipment requires licensed dealers, valuation by the State Department for Mining, payment of royalties, and an export permit. We only work with licensed miners and dealers, conduct KYC on every buyer, and follow OECD due-diligence guidance for responsible mineral supply chains.

Gemstones are offered as rough and selected cut stones. Industrial minerals are supplied in bulk by sea from Mombasa. Gold is handled only through fully licensed, refinery-ready channels with assay certification and banking-grade documentation.

Typical buyers: Licensed mineral traders, gem cutters, jewellers, refiners, manufacturers and industrial users.

Types, varieties, grades & specifications

8 types available. Specifications are typical; exact parameters are confirmed per lot on the quotation and certificate of analysis.

Type 1 of 8

Tsavorite (green grossular garnet)

Kenya's signature gem from Taita Taveta — vivid green, high brilliance. Rough and calibrated cut stones.

Tsavorite is a vivid green grossular garnet coloured by vanadium and chromium. It was discovered in the Taita Taveta region in the late 1960s and named after Tsavo National Park. Its brilliance and refractive index exceed emerald's, and it is rarely treated. Clean stones above 2 carats are rare and command high prices. We offer rough parcels and calibrated cut stones through licensed dealers.

Typical uses & buyers

Fine jewellery (rings, earrings, pendants)
Gem cutters and lapidaries
Collector stones
Watch and luxury brands

Sample priced on invoice Quote this type

Specifications

Mineral	grossular garnet, Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃ (V, Cr coloured)
Colour	light mint to deep forest green
Hardness (Mohs)	7–7.5
Refractive index	approx. 1.74
Specific gravity	approx. 3.6
Treatment	typically untreated
Forms	rough (by gram), calibrated & free-size cut (by carat)
Reports	GIA / AIGS / GRS on request
Origin	Taita Taveta, Kenya

Type 2 of 8

Ruby & Sapphire

Rough and cabochon-grade ruby and sapphire from southern Kenya.

Kenya produces ruby and sapphire (corundum) in Taita Taveta, Kajiado and West Pokot. Material ranges from facet-grade rough to cabochon and specimen quality, with rubies typically showing deep pink-red to purplish-red tones. Parcels are graded by colour, clarity and size and sold with full permits.

Typical uses & buyers

Jewellery cutting (faceted and cabochon)
Carving and bead making
Specimens and collections

Sample priced on invoice Quote this type

Specifications

Mineral	corundum, Al₂O₃ (Cr = ruby; Fe/Ti = sapphire)
Hardness (Mohs)	9
Refractive index	approx. 1.76–1.77
Specific gravity	approx. 4.0
Grades	facet, cabochon, bead, specimen
Treatment	unheated rough; disclose any treatment
Sold	by gram (rough) or carat (cut)
Origin	Taita Taveta, Kajiado, West Pokot

Type 3 of 8

Rhodolite & Other Garnets

Purple-red rhodolite, mali and spessartite garnets.

Kenya mines several garnet varieties: rhodolite (purplish-red pyrope-almandine), mali garnet, spessartite (orange) and colour-change garnets. They offer strong colour and brilliance at accessible prices, making them popular with cutters and jewellery manufacturers.

Typical uses & buyers

Commercial and fashion jewellery
Cutting rough for calibrated stones
Beads and cabochons

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Specifications

Minerals	pyrope-almandine (rhodolite), spessartite, mali (grossular-andradite)
Colours	purple-red, raspberry, orange, colour-change
Hardness (Mohs)	7–7.5
Refractive index	approx. 1.74–1.80
Sold	rough parcels by kg/gram; cut by carat
Origin	Taita Taveta, Kwale, Turkana

Type 4 of 8

Tourmaline, Aquamarine, Amethyst & Kyanite

Coloured stones for cutters and jewellery manufacturers.

Kenya's gem belts also produce coloured tourmaline (green, pink, bi-colour), blue aquamarine, purple amethyst and blue kyanite. These are supplied as rough parcels for cutters and as mineral specimens for collectors and crystal retailers.

Typical uses & buyers

Gem cutting
Crystal and wellness retail
Mineral specimens
Bead and jewellery making

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Specifications

Tourmaline — hardness 7–7.5, RI 1.62–1.64
Aquamarine (beryl) — hardness 7.5–8, RI 1.57–1.58
Amethyst (quartz) — hardness 7, RI 1.54–1.55
Kyanite — hardness 4.5–7 (directional), RI 1.71–1.73
Grades	facet, cabochon, specimen, tumble
Sold	rough parcels by kg / gram

Type 5 of 8

Gold (doré / bars)

Only via licensed dealers with export permit, assay certificate and refinery acceptance.

Kenyan gold comes from licensed artisanal and small-scale mining in Migori, Kakamega, Narok and West Pokot, and from small commercial operations. Gold is exported only by licensed dealers with a mineral export permit, assay certificate, royalty payment and full KYC/AML checks on the buyer, in line with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance. Doré is shipped to accredited refineries; refined bars are LBMA-referenced.

Typical uses & buyers

Refineries (doré)
Bullion dealers and banks
Jewellery manufacturers

Sample priced on invoice Quote this type

Specifications

Forms	doré bars, refined bars (where available)
Purity (doré)	typically 70–92% Au — assayed per bar
Assay	State Department for Mining / accredited lab + refinery re-assay
Pricing	LBMA spot-linked with agreed discount
Compliance	Mining Act 2016, export permit, royalty receipt
Due diligence	KYC/AML, OECD Annex II, chain of custody
Logistics	insured secure courier (e.g., Brink's, Malca-Amit)
Note	no sales without licences, assay & buyer verification

Type 6 of 8

Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate)

Natural soda ash from Lake Magadi for glass, detergents and chemicals.

Kenya's natural soda ash is produced from trona deposits at Lake Magadi in Kajiado County, one of the few natural soda-ash sources in the world. It is supplied in dense and light grades for glass, detergent and chemical manufacturing across Asia and Africa.

Typical uses & buyers

Glass manufacturing (container, flat)
Detergents and soaps
Chemicals and water treatment
Pulp, paper and mining reagents

Sample: $1.45/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Chemical	sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃
Purity	≥ 97–99% (grade dependent)
Grades	dense (glass) and light
Bulk density	dense 0.9–1.1 g/cm³ · light 0.5–0.6 g/cm³
NaCl	≤ 0.7% · Fe₂O₃: low
Moisture	≤ 0.5%
Packing	50 kg bags, 1 MT jumbo bags, bulk
Typical 20ft FCL	approx. 25 MT
Origin	Lake Magadi, Kajiado

Type 7 of 8

Diatomite

Natural diatomaceous earth for filtration, fillers and agriculture.

Diatomite (diatomaceous earth) is a light, porous sedimentary rock made from fossilised diatoms. Kenyan deposits near Gilgil (Kariandusi) in the Rift Valley produce material used for filtration, fillers, absorbents and natural pest control.

Typical uses & buyers

Filtration (beer, juice, oils, water)
Fillers in paints and plastics
Absorbents and insulation
Agriculture and natural insecticides

Sample: $1.60/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Composition	amorphous silica, SiO₂ approx. 80–90%
Forms	natural, calcined, flux-calcined powders
Particle size	graded by mesh/micron
Bulk density	approx. 0.2–0.5 g/cm³
Moisture	≤ 6%
Packing	25 kg bags, jumbo bags
Origin	Kariandusi (Gilgil), Rift Valley

Type 8 of 8

Fluorspar / Industrial Minerals (subject to availability)

Acid-grade and metallurgical fluorspar, limestone, gypsum and vermiculite from licensed sources.

Kenya has fluorspar deposits in the Kerio Valley, as well as limestone, gypsum, vermiculite and other industrial minerals. Supply depends on licensed producers' output, so availability is confirmed at quotation. Material is supplied with assay certificates.

Typical uses & buyers

Steel making (metallurgical fluorspar)
Hydrofluoric acid and chemicals (acid grade)
Cement and construction (limestone, gypsum)
Horticulture and insulation (vermiculite)

Sample: $1.50/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Fluorspar — acid grade ≥ 97% CaF₂; metallurgical 60–85% CaF₂
Limestone — CaCO₃ per grade
Gypsum — CaSO₄·2H₂O per grade
Vermiculite — graded by flake size
Packing	50 kg bags, jumbo bags, bulk
Documents	assay certificate, export permit
Availability	confirmed per enquiry

Growing & production areas in Kenya

Growing / production area	Altitude	Notes
Taita Taveta	500–2,200 m	Tsavorite, ruby, rhodolite and other garnets — Kenya's gemstone capital.
Kajiado (Lake Magadi)	600–1,000 m	Natural trona deposits processed into soda ash.
Migori, Kakamega, Narok & West Pokot	1,100–2,000 m	Artisanal and small-scale gold mining belts.
Kitui, Baringo & Turkana	400–1,500 m	Coloured gemstones, vermiculite and other industrial minerals.
Nakuru (Gilgil) & Elgeyo-Marakwet (Kerio Valley)	1,000–2,000 m	Diatomite and fluorspar deposits.

Trade information

Season

Year-round, subject to licensing and mining output.

Minimum order

Gemstones: by parcel. Industrial minerals: from 1 × 20ft FCL (approx. 25 MT).

Packaging

Gemstones: sealed parcels with lot numbers and weights
Soda ash & industrial minerals: 25/50 kg bags, 1 MT jumbo bags, bulk
Gold: sealed and insured secure-logistics transport (e.g., Brink's, Malca-Amit)

Logistics & Incoterms

Gemstones & gold: insured secure air via JKIA
Industrial minerals: sea from Mombasa
Incoterms: FCA Nairobi, CIP (gems/gold); FOB Mombasa, CFR, CIF (minerals)

Certifications

Licensed mineral dealer (Mining Act 2016)
OECD Due Diligence Guidance compliance
Gemological lab reports on request
ISO lab assay for gold & industrial minerals

Export documents

Mineral export permit (State Department for Mining)
Valuation & royalty payment receipt
Certificate of Origin
Assay certificate / gem lab report
Buyer KYC & import licence
Customs declaration & insurance certificate

HS codes: 7103.10 (precious stones, rough) · 7103.91/99 (worked) · 7108.12 (gold, unwrought) · 2836.20 (soda ash) · 2512.00 (diatomite) · 2529.21/22 (fluorspar)

Export destinations for Kenyan minerals & gems

Market-specific guidance on ports, transit times and import requirements.

🇦🇪Minerals & Gems to United Arab EmiratesJebel Ali, Dubai (AEJEA)Sea 8–14 days · Air 5–6 hours 🇨🇳Minerals & Gems to ChinaShanghai (CNSHA)Sea 20–30 days · Air 1–2 days 🇮🇳Minerals & Gems to IndiaNhava Sheva / JNPT (INNSA)Sea 10–16 days · Air 5–6 hours

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy gold from you without licences?

No. We only trade gold through licensed channels with export permits, assay certificates, full KYC/AML checks and refinery acceptance. Offers of 'cheap gold' without these documents are a common scam — we never operate that way.

How are gemstone samples handled?

Gemstone and gold samples are priced individually and shipped insured. We issue a pro-forma invoice with the parcel weight, lab report and permits.

Buyer guides

Guides for importers

Product Buying Guides

Buy Tsavorite, Gemstones & Soda Ash from Kenya: A Licensed Supplier Guide

How to buy Kenyan gemstones and industrial minerals legally — permits, valuation, lab reports — and the warning signs of scams.

Read guide →

Sourcing Countries

How to Import from Kenya: Best Products, Verified Suppliers & Shipping Guide

A buyer's overview of Kenya's top export products, how sourcing works and how goods get from Kenyan farms and factories to your port.

Read guide →

Ready to import from Kenya?

Tell us the product, variety, quantity, Incoterm (FOB / CIF / CFR / DAP) and your destination port or airport. We reply with a formal quotation, usually within one business day.

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