Top Kenyan Exports & Imports
Rising Coffee and Tea Shipments Improve Trade Balance with America
Jan 7, 2008
In 2006, Kenya exported some US$3.4 billion worth of goods led by tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish and cement. Topping the list of customers for Kenyan exports were Uganda (15.9% of total exports), the United Kingdom (10.3%), the United States (8.2%), Netherlands (7.9%), Tanzania (7.7%) and Pakistan (4.9%).
Kenya imported about $6.8 billion in commodities ranging from machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron, steel and plastics. Leading suppliers of Kenyan imports included the United Arab Emirates (11.8% of total imports), India (8.8%), China (8.3%), Saudi Arabia (8.3%), the United States (7%), South Africa (6.4%), the United Kingdom (5.3%) and Japan (4.7%).
Kenya’s international trade deficit was $3.4 billion in 2006. A closer look at Kenyan’s trade statistics with the United States reveal that the African nation has significantly reduced its deficit with one of its major trading partners.
Kenyan Exports to U.S.
With a population of 36.9 million, Kenya exported US$353.7 million worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 1.6% from 2005 and up 87.6% in 4 years.
- Cotton apparel and household goods …US$222.4 million (62.9% of Kenya to U.S. exports, down 1.9% from 2005)
- Non-cotton apparel and household goods … $38.9 million (11%, down 7.1%)
- Unprocessed coffee beans … $24.1 million (6.8%, up 13.6%)
- Tea, spices and preparations … $11.1 million (3.1%, up 18.8%)
- Tobacco, waxes and non-food oils … $9.1 million (2.6%, down 0.5%)
- Nuts and preparations … $7.4 million (2.1%, down 27.7%)
- Abrasives, belting, boxes, glass … $4.3 million (1.2%, up 1.2%)
- Vehicle parts and accessories … $3.1 million (0.9%, up 905.6%)
- Fish and shellfish … $3 million (0.8%, up 25.9%)
- Antiques, artwork and other collectibles … $2.2 million (0.6%, up 18.6%)
Fastest-Growing Kenyan Exports to U.S.
Below are American imports from Kenya in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.
- Synthetic cloth, cordage, fabrics and thread … US$632,000 (up 2,331% from 2005)
- Scientific, medical and hospital equipment … $562,000 (up 1,122%)
- Other industrial machinery … $720,000 (up 1,008%)
- Vehicle parts and accessories … $3.1 million (up 905.6%)
- Service industry machinery and trade tools … $1.4 million (up 548%)
Kenyan Imports from U.S.
Kenyan imports from the U.S. fell 16.8% to $526 million in 2006, but were up 108.5% since 2002.
Of American exports to Kenya in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.
- Civilian aircraft … US$203.8 million (38.7% of Kenya from U.S. imports, down 51.2% from 2005)
- Wheat … $25.1 million (4.8%, up 189.2%)
- Chemical fertilizers … $23.9 million (4.5%, up 93.4%)
- Fuel oil … $21.3 million (4%, up from nil in 2005)
- Telecommunications equipment … $18.2 million (3.5%, up 100%)
- Other foods … $16 million (3%, up 299.7%)
- Steelmaking materials … $15 million (2.8%, up 17.3%)
- Railway transportation equipment … $13.3 million (2.5%, up 2,857%)
- Civilian aircraft parts … $12.3 million (2.3%, up 18.3%)
- Other industrial machines … $302 million (3.4%, up 13.2%)
Fastest-Growing Kenyan Imports from U.S.
Below are American exports to Kenya in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.
- Antiques, artwork and other collectibles … US$3.1 million (up 12,675% from 2005)
- Railway transportation equipment … $13.3 million (up 2,857%)
- Aircraft launching gear … $712,000 (up 2,639%)
- Meat and poultry … $612,000 (up 1,430%)
- Specialized mining equipment … $1.2 million (up 1,351%)
In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade surplus with Kenya was $172.3 million in 2006, down 108.5% from 2002. The U.S. trade deficit with Kenya decreased 39.4% in 2006 – a significant improvement from the 583% deficit increase in 2005 from the year earlier.
Sources
This analysis is based on latest statistics from the US Census Bureau - Foreign Trade Statistics and CIA World Factbook as of the date of article publication.
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