We publish cost ranges rather than hiding them. Your final CMT price depends on stitch structure, yarn, gauge and order volume — and for Kenya we are upfront about EAC duty and VAT on top of factory cost.
We don't publish a single price list because knitwear pricing doesn't work that way. A 3-gauge chunky cable pullover and a 12-gauge WHOLEGARMENT seamless base layer require different machines, different machine time, different yarn weights, and different linking labour — their CMT costs are genuinely different. What we can do is give you the cost ranges by construction type, and explain what moves your piece up or down within that range. For Kenyan brands we are also clear about the import duty and VAT that land on top of factory cost — see the Kenya import duty guide.
All prices are CMT only (cut, make, trim — labour and overhead). Yarn cost is separate and depends entirely on fibre, count, and market price at time of order. These are 2025–2026 ranges in USD; actual quotes depend on your specific brief. Kenyan import duty and VAT are not included here — those apply at the Port of Mombasa.
$8–14 CMT
Fully-fashioned flat-knit, 7–12gg, single stitch structure (jersey, 1×1 rib). Standard linking. Low complexity. Typical for cotton basics and entry-price merino programmes.
$14–22 CMT
Cable, jacquard, intarsia or structural texture. More machine programming, slower throughput, tighter QC. Mid-range merino, premium cotton, and wool-blend programmes.
$18–30 CMT
Single-piece 3D knit on Shima Seiki. Slower per-unit throughput than panel construction. No linking cost. Best for premium, next-to-skin, and sustainability-positioned programmes.
$12–20 CMT
Heavier yarn, larger loop structures. Slower machine throughput at low gauge despite visual simplicity. Typical for outerwear-weight sweaters, cardigans and chunky knit dresses.
We'd rather you budget accurately than be surprised at the Port of Mombasa. There is no Turkey–Kenya free-trade agreement, so Turkish knitwear enters Kenya under the EAC Common External Tariff. Chinese goods fall under the same EAC tariff — so on duty there is no tariff advantage over China. Our case is built on quality and supply security, not a cheaper rate.
Textile and knitwear imports attract the EAC CET of 25%. This applies to Turkish and Chinese knitwear alike — there is no preferential rate for Turkey, so we never claim a duty advantage over China.
Standard import 16% VAT is assessed by the Kenya Revenue Authority on the duty-inclusive value. Budget both the 25% CET and 16% VAT into your landed cost before setting retail margins.
Quality, China-plus-one supply diversification, in-house WHOLEGARMENT seamless capability, English-language business communication and premium positioning. We complement Kenya's own EPZ and AGOA-oriented production rather than undercut it.
Landing premium knitwear through Nairobi gives you a base into the wider EAC market of around 300 million people. We support brands serving Kenya and the region — see the EAC sourcing guide.
$80–180 including courier to Kenya. One colourway, one size. Yarn may be substituted (closest available) if your specified yarn is not in stock. Turnaround: 10–14 days from tech pack approval.
$120–250 depending on construction. Production-spec yarn, production-spec construction. For wholesale showroom or buyer meetings. Turnaround: 14–21 days from proto sign-off.
$60–100 per additional size from the first approved sample. For fit approval across your size run before bulk production. Recommended for fitted constructions and washed garments.
Included in bulk orders. One unit produced at the start of bulk to confirm production line matches approved samples. Standard practice; no additional charge.
For Kenya, the documentation chain matters as much as the price. We coordinate the IDF (Import Declaration Form), PVoC pre-export Certificate of Conformity and KEBS standards compliance so your shipment clears with KRA cleanly. Sea freight from Mersin to the Port of Mombasa runs about 18–25 days via the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Indian Ocean — plan your launch around that window; the Mombasa logistics guide walks through it. Samples are paid in full before production. Bulk orders are typically 30% deposit on order confirmation, 70% balance before shipment (T/T bank transfer). We work with existing clients on net terms once a track record is established. We invoice in USD; your KRA duty and VAT are settled locally in KES. We provide a pro forma invoice before any payment.
Send us your tech pack or design brief — or just a reference image and a construction description. We'll give you a CMT range for your specific piece within 1 business day, and a firm quote once we've confirmed gauge, stitch structure, and construction details. Tell us your delivery date into Kenya and we'll work back through Mombasa lead time. Start from the OEM knitwear manufacturer overview if you're scoping a full programme.
Share your style and construction details. We'll quote CMT, confirm yarn options, and give you a production timeline for your Kenyan delivery date. Explore our merino cardigan and cotton sweater programmes, or go straight to the main overview.
Pricing & Sourcing Guides
Pricing
EAC Common External Tariff, 16% VAT and how the landed cost actually adds up at Mombasa.
Read guide →Logistics
IDF, PVoC, KEBS and KRA clearance — the documentation chain from Mersin to Mombasa.
Read guide →Strategy
No duty advantage either way — so where Turkish knitwear genuinely wins, and where it doesn't.
Read guide →Guide
PVoC and KEBS conformity built into the order so your shipment clears Mombasa first time.
Read guide →Guide
Sampling, bulk production and the 18–25 day Mersin–Mombasa sea leg, planned end to end.
Read guide →CMT (cut, make, trim) labour ranges from roughly USD 8–14 for a basic flat-knit pullover up to USD 18–30 for WHOLEGARMENT seamless construction. Yarn is quoted separately on top. On landed cost you should also budget the EAC Common External Tariff of 25% on textiles plus 16% VAT through KRA, and sea freight from Mersin to Mombasa. We give a CMT range within one business day of receiving your tech pack.
No. There is no free-trade agreement between Turkey and Kenya, so Turkish knitwear enters under the EAC Common External Tariff (25% on textiles) exactly like Chinese goods. There is no customs advantage over China on price. Our case is quality, China-plus-one supply diversification, in-house WHOLEGARMENT capability, English-language business communication and premium positioning — not a cheaper duty rate.
250 units per colour, per size, including WHOLEGARMENT. The MOQ covers machine setup, programming amortisation and material efficiency. Samples have no minimum — proto and salesman samples are single units.
Sea freight from Mersin to the Port of Mombasa typically runs about 18–25 days via the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Indian Ocean, before KEBS clearance and KRA processing. We coordinate PVoC certification and the IDF so your shipment is documented correctly before it sails.