The total value of Kenya’s exports remained relatively stable last year despite notable differences across various destination markets.
According to the 2026 Economic Survey, these variations were influenced by changing demand patterns and commodity flows across regions such as Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Africa remained the largest export market, with associated receipts from the continent rising by 6.4 per cent to Sh425.6 billion in 2024 to Sh452.8 billion last year.
“The growth was mainly supported by shipments to the East African Community (EAC), which expanded to Sh351.2 billion,” the report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) states.
Uganda continued to be the leading single destination having recorded an increase of 28.8 per cent to Sh162.4 billion in 2025 and accounting for 14.5 per cent of the total export earnings. Kenya earned Sh1.119 trillion in exports last year.
Other economies that largely supported growth in export earnings from Africa were DR Congo (DRC) and South Africa, which recorded increases of 24.3 per cent and 17.9 per cent, respectively.
However, receipts from exports to Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and Tanzania declined by 59.8, 27.8, 21.3 and 5.3 per cent, respectively, partly offsetting overall regional gains.
Sudan’s sharp decline may be attributed to tension between Nairobi and Khartoum over Kenya’s move to host the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commonly known us Janjaweed militia, a decision that may have hurt the business ties between the two nations.
The report further shows that in 2025, export performance to Asia declined by 13.2 per cent to Sh275.7 billion.
This decline was primarily due to decline in exports in key markets like Yemen (66.45%), Saudi Arabia (38.3%), China (35.7%), India (8.3%) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (23.3%).
“The decline was due to reduced domestic exports and re-exports particularly in kerosene-type jet fuel and tea to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, titanium ores and concentrates and macadamia nuts to China, pigeon peas to India and tea to Yemen,” the report adds.
On the other side, European markets expanded in 2025, with total export earnings from this region increasing to Sh264.0 billion from Sh246.9 billion in 2024.
The European Union remained the dominant sub-region of Western Europe, supported by increased receipts from Italy (50.2%), Belgium (32.8%), France (18.7%) and Germany (12.2%).
The expansion was largely driven by increased domestic exports of fixed vegetable or microbial fats and oils to Italy, as well as higher shipments of coffee to Belgium and France.
In addition, rise in exports to Germany was occasioned by increased domestic exports of coffee and macadamia nuts.
Despite the overall growth, export earnings from the Netherlands declined by 4.8 per cent to Sh69.0 billion, mainly due to reduced domestic exports of avocado and re-exports of kerosene-type jet fuel.
Exports to the United Kingdom declined by 1.5 per cent to Sh60.0 billion, largely due to decreased domestic exports of tea.
In contrast, Eastern European destinations recorded improved performance, particularly Kazakhstan which rose from Sh9.3 billion in 2024 to Sh14.7 billion in 2025, supported by increased domestic exports of tea to this destination.
Exports to the American market recorded a decline of 4.4 per cent to Sh90.1 billion last year. The US, which accounts for the bulk of this region’s earnings reduced by 10.3 per cent to Sh79.7 billion, resulting from decreased domestic exports of titanium ores and concentrates; and articles of apparel and clothing accessories, as well as re-exports of kerosene-type jet fuel.
“However, despite the overall decline, export earnings from Canada exhibited a growth of 82.3 per cent to Sh4.8 billion in 2025 primarily driven by increased domestic exports of coffee.”
