Uganda tops the list as Kenya’s export destination, with approximately Kshs. 21.46 billion between January and May this year. Kenya’s exports to Pakistan follow closely with approximately Kshs. 21.2 billion, mostly from tea. The Netherlands comes third at Kshs 20.43 billion.
This years’ performance shows a slight improvement from last years’ figures. In May last year, Kenya’s exports to Uganda amounted to Kshs. 21.3 billion. In total, Uganda’s imports from Kenya amounted to Kshs 51 billion for the year 2018. Some of the top exports to the country in 2018 include metals and precious stones as well as minerals such as salt and sulfur.
Bilateral trade between Kenya and Uganda is finally on the rise. Statistics from 2018 and 2019 show that Nairobi’s exports to Kampala are recovering from the dip between 2014 and 2017. According to Standard, Economists attribute the low exports in 2014 and 2015 to industrialization in Uganda. Furthermore, China’s increased presence in East Africa is edged out Kenya’s position as a source of cheap exports.
While exports to Uganda continue to soar, other East African Countries seem to import very little from Kenya. For example, Kenya only exported goods worth Kshs 11.2 billion to Tanzania in the first five months . Moreover, Uganda and Tanzania remain the main destinations for Kenyan goods in Africa.
