Kenyan imports increased to KSh992 billion in the first six months of 2021 from KSh777 billion in the same period in 2020 as the economy slowly recovered from the covid19-linked slump experienced last year. According to data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the value of commercial imports in the six months to June amounted to KSh959 million from KSh752 million last year.
CBK data shows that government imports amounted to KSh32.6 billion at the end of the first half of 2021, a 34% increase from KSh24.4 billion at the end of the first half of 2020.
The value of selected Kenyan exports jumped to KSh331.1 billion at the end of June from KSh271 billion in the same period a year ago. March registered the highest amount of exports in the first six months of 2021, at KSh60.2 billion. Some of the exports included in the calculations are; Coffee, tea, horticulture, fish, cement, petroleum, and chemicals.
Coffee exports brought in KSh16.1 billion in the six months to June, up from KSh13.2 billion in 2020, tea exports brought in KSh68 billion, while horticulture exports added KSh73.1 billion to the national income in the six months period.
