Kenya’s external trade value hit KSh1.4 trillion in H1 2021, a 24.3% increase from KSh1.094 trillion in H1 2020. The rise in external trade is attributed to a rebound in global and macroeconomic economic conditions as the world re-emerges from COVID-19 related disruptions.
Imports into the country rose by 27.7 % to hit KSh991.5 billion, while exports rose by 16.3% to hit KSh368.7 billion.
Food and beverages accounted for 42.3% of Kenyan exports, with consumer goods accounting for 27.9 and non-food industrial supplies accounting for 25.8%.
During the review period, Uganda was Kenya’s largest export destination, taking up goods worth KSh36.4 billion, followed by the Netherlands at KSh31.1 billion and the US at KSh26.6 billion.
China was the greatest on Kenyan imports, ordering goods and services worth KSh208.9 billion, followed by India, the UAE, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the US, Netherlands, South Africa, Germany, the UK and France.
An estimated 39% of the imports comprise industrial supplies, 16.1% are fuel and lubricants, 14.3% are machinery and capital equipment, and 10.4% are food and beverages.
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