Top 10 Exports in Kenya

By Soko Directory Team / Published February 2, 2019 | 12:10 am

Kenya’s main exports are horticultural products, coffee, and tea with the United Kingdom (UK) being Kenya’s second most important export destination.

Kenya accounts for 27 percent of the fresh produce and 56 percent of the black tea market in the UK becoming the 107^th largest export economy in the world.

The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Kenyan global shipments during 2017 and the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Kenya.

At the more detailed four-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level, Kenya’s most valuable exported good is tea.

Other top Kenyan exports are fresh or dried flowers for bouquets or ornamental purposes, refined petroleum oils, coffee, titanium ores and concentrates then medication mixes in dosage.

Coffee, tea, spices

Coffee, tea, and spices earn the country an average of 1.7 billion dollars making up 29 percent of the total exports.

Live trees, plants, cut flowers

Live trees, plants, and cut flowers make up 10.4 percent of the country’s exports earning the country 595.6 million dollars.

Mineral fuels including oil

Mineral fuels which include oil make up the backbone of Kenya’s exports contributing 6.2 percent and earning the country 353.7 million dollars.

Vegetables

Vegetables in Kenya contribute a significant 3.6 percent to Kenya’s exports earning the country 209.2 million dollars.

Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet)

Kenya exports clothing despite importing used clothes famous as mtumba which means second-hand. Clothing and accessories contribute to 3.3 percent of the exports earning the country 190.3 million dollars.

Fruits, nuts

Kenya prides herself of the booming agriculture industry and this is evidenced by its great contribution to its exports.

Fruits and nuts earn Kenya 180.7 million dollars contributing 3.1 percent to exported products by the country.

Ores, slag, ash

Ores, slag and ash contribute a similar percentage to fruits and nuts which is 3.1percent earning the country an estimated 177.3 million dollars.

Tobacco manufactured substitutes

Tobacco and manufactured substitutes earn Kenya 134.2 million dollars annually and make up 2.3 percent of the total Kenyan exports.

Plastics, plastic articles

Plastics and plastic articles earn Kenya 129.5 million dollars annually contributing 2.3 of the total exports.

Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals contribute 124.2 million dollars to the Kenyan economy every year making up 2.2 percent of the total exports.

Ores, slag, ash is the fastest-growing among the top 10 exports moving up by 24.7 percent from 2016 to 2017. The increase was driven by improving international sales of titanium ores and concentrates.

Fruits and nuts were second in improvement by 20.6 percent a year after year while the Kenyan coffee, tea and spices received the third-fastest appreciation of 14.7 percent gain showing progress respectively.
Vegetables declined largely and suppressed by the mineral fuels that include oil.

Export Destinations

Kenya’s top export destinations are the United States with an income of an estimated 524 Million dollars, the Netherlands with 467 million dollars, Uganda with 441 Million dollars, and Pakistan with 394 million dollars and the United Kingdom with 386 Million dollars.

About Soko Directory Team

Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system.Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

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