Kenya's exports are dominated by Agricultural products with Tea being the number one export, followed by coffee, cut flowers, tobacco, iron and steel products, petroleum products, and cement. Its main trading partners are the UK, Netherlands, Uganda, Tanzania, United States, and Pakistan.
Kenya had nearly 28 million hectares of agricultural land in 2019, which corresponded to over 48 percent of the country's total land area, with its highest rainfall areas constituting about 10% of Kenya's arable land and producing 70% of its total agricultural output.
Kenya is one of the largest black tea exporters in the world their largest markets are Pakistan, Egypt, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates, accounting for 69% of exports. Pakistan buying US$469.1 Million worth of tea from Kenya in 2021.
Kenya is the third biggest export of coffee in Africa, following Ethiopia and Uganda, Exporting 49,980 Metric tons of coffee in 2019.
The Cut Flower industry employs 150 000 people and contributes 1 percent of the country's GDP, making it the third-largest foreign exchange earner. Flower sales generated $960 million in 2019.
Kenya's rose exports to the European Union make up 38% of the market share, mostly through Dutch Auctions but direct sales have grown year on year. In the United Kingdom supermarket Chains are the main buyers with value-adding through sleeving labeling and bouquet production proving profitable.
Time is of the essence in the cut flower business, with a cold chain set up to reach consumers within 72 hours after the flower has been cut. For every extra day thereafter it loses 15% of its value. Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and changing quality preferences, tariffs, and non-tariff barriers are some of the challenges facing the cut flower industry. Lockdown disruptions severely impacted this sector, recovery looks on track through new logistics solutions and cold chain facilities.
Kenya has signed and ratified the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), and is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC). These trade blocks present a huge potential for trade and logistics.
For any inspection in Kenya from farm audits to time-sensitive fresh produce pre-shipment inspections, Inspexion has the inspection quotes you need.