Kenya’s exports to Tanzania grew the sharpest among all East Africa Community (EAC) markets in the six months to June 2022.
Kenya’s exports to Tanzania jumped the highest by 46% to KES 28.66 billion ($236.7 million) extending a good trade run between the pair amid ongoing elimination of non-tariff barriers.
Kenya’s trade with Tanzania has grown steadily in the past years in the wake of improved relations between the two countries after years of feuds that at one point resulted in retaliatory measures such as trade bans.
Data by the KNBS shows that the value of Kenya’s exports to Tanzania jumped 43.39% to KES 45.6 billion ($376.6 million) in 2021 compared to the previous year. Tanzania’s exports to Kenya, on the other hand, also grew 95.3% last year—nearly double-to KES 54.47 billion ($449.9 million) in 2020.
On the flip side, statistics by the Central Bank of Kenya shows Kenya’s exports to Uganda fell 8.5% to KES 46.77 billion ($386.3 million) during the half year compared to a similar period in 2021, breaking a growth trend in all EAC markets including Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
Although Uganda remains Kenya’s main export market, frequent trade tiffs over items such as sugar, eggs and milk have often soured trade. For instance, in June Uganda accused Kenya of sparking a fresh trade row by reintroducing a levy on eggs.
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Nevertheless, there was a 39% growth in Kenya’s exports to Rwanda in the half year to June to hit KES 19.28 billion ($159.2 million).
Kenya’s exports to South Sudan were up 34.11% to KES 13.73 billion ($113.4 million) in the period.
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