This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
Kenya's exports have seen a significant boost in the first five months of the year, with Pakistan emerging as the biggest buyer of Kenyan goods.
According to official data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Pakistan overtook Uganda to become the top importer of Kenyan products, with earnings from exports to Pakistan increasing by 19.37% to Ksh24.13 billion ($225 million) in the January-May 2020 period.
This marked the first time since 2017 that Pakistan had regained its position as the top importer of Kenyan goods, with Uganda dropping to third place due to coronavirus-induced delays at the border.
The delays, which were caused by a requirement for truckers to have Covid-free certificates, resulted in a 5.65% drop in supplies to Uganda, with earnings from exports to the land-locked country decreasing to Ksh20.22 billion ($189 million).
However, revenue from exports to the United Kingdom (UK) grew at the fastest pace of 30.06% to Ksh21.49 billion ($200 million), driven by increased demand for fresh farm produce such as fruits, cut flowers, and vegetables.
Kenya Flower Council chief executive Clement Tulezi attributed the rise in demand for Kenyan fresh produce to the fact that demand in Europe and other key destinations has been rising since April, with sales reaching nearly 75% of targeted levels.
However, delivery has been hindered by erratic freight services, with most airlines prioritizing medical supplies in the fight against Covid-19.
