The value of Kenya’s domestic exports grew by 5.3 per cent to KSh 144.9 billion in 2020 Q1 from Ksh 137.6 billion in Q1 2019. The rise comes from growth in exports of tea, titanium ores and concentrates and essential oils which grew by 8.8%, 75.4%, and 31.4% respectively compared to the last quarter.

Tea and horticulture accounted for the majority of the domestic exports, at KSh 34.1 billion and 35.3 billion respectively. On the other hand, Cement was the least exported among the country’s principal products in the quarter, valued at KSh 115 million.

However, domestic exports for coffee and horticulture fell by 10.2 and 4.2% in between January and March 2020 compared to a similar period last year.

The quarter one Balance of Payments Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that domestic exports of food and beverages accounted for 44.8% of the exports, and grew by 6.9% compared to 2019 Q1.

Pakistan is now Kenya’s top export destination after exports to Uganda slowed down due to border delays in the pandemic. In the first five months, Kenya’s exports to the country grew by 19.4% to Ksh 24.13 billion, with tea accounting for the majority of the exports. On the other hand, exports to Uganda fell by 5.65% to Ksh 20.2 billion, thanks to border delays in April and May.

Kenya’s total exports increased by 14% to KSh 179.8 billion, while total imports increased by Ksh 1.9 billion to Ksh 426.4 billion in 2020 Q1 compared to 2019. As such, the balance of trade improved by Ksh 20.1 billion to Ksh 246.1 billion in 2020’s first quarter compared to the same period last year.

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