This archive report was first published on 20 August 2021.
As the Kenyan economy slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, imports have surged to KSh992 billion in the first six months of 2021, a significant increase from the KSh777 billion recorded in the same period in 2020.
According to data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), commercial imports reached KSh959 million in the six months to June, up from KSh752 million in the same period last year.
Government imports also saw a notable increase, rising to KSh32.6 billion at the end of the first half of 2021, a 34% jump from KSh24.4 billion in the same period in 2020.
On the export front, selected Kenyan exports jumped to KSh331.1 billion at the end of June, a significant increase from KSh271 billion in the same period a year ago. March registered the highest amount of exports in the first six months of 2021, at KSh60.2 billion.
Key exports included coffee, tea, horticulture, fish, cement, petroleum, and chemicals, with coffee exports bringing in KSh16.1 billion, tea exports generating KSh68 billion, and horticulture exports adding KSh73.1 billion to the national income in the six months period.
