This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
Kenya's exports to Pakistan have surged, making the country the largest buyer of Kenyan goods in the first five months of the year.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Pakistan overtook Uganda as the top buyer of Kenyan goods after supplies to Kampala were slowed down by coronavirus-induced delays at the border.
The data shows that earnings from exports to Pakistan, mainly tea, increased by 19.37% to Sh24.13 billion, pushing Pakistan back to the top of the list of importers of Kenyan products for the first time since 2017.
On the other hand, supplies to Uganda, Kenya's largest trading partner, dropped by 5.65% to Sh20.22 billion due to delays in April and May caused by a requirement for truckers to have Covid-free certificates.
As a result, Uganda was pushed down to third place, leapfrogged by the United Kingdom (UK), which saw a 30.06% increase in revenue from exports to Sh21.49 billion, driven by increased demand for fresh farm produce such as fruits, cut flowers, and vegetables.
The Kenya Flower Council noted that demand for Kenyan fresh produce in Europe and other key destinations has been rising since April, reaching nearly 75% of targeted sales.
However, delivery has been hindered by erratic freight services, with most airlines prioritizing medical supplies in the fight against Covid-19.
Kenya's overall exports rose by 6.73% to Sh269.13 billion in the January-May 2020 period, driven by increased sales of tea and horticultural products.
Tea earnings jumped by 18.90% to Sh58.62 billion, while income from the sale of fruits surged by 78.91% to Sh11.09 billion.
