This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
Kenya's exports to Uganda have seen a significant increase, with the country topping the list as Kenya's export destination in the first five months of the year. According to recent statistics, Kenya's exports to Uganda have reached approximately Kshs. 21.46 billion between January and May this year.
Tea is a major contributor to Kenya's exports to Uganda, with the country's exports to Pakistan following closely at approximately Kshs. 21.2 billion. The Netherlands comes third at Kshs 20.43 billion.
Compared to last year's figures, this year's performance shows a slight improvement. In May last year, Kenya's exports to Uganda amounted to Kshs. 21.3 billion. In total, Uganda's imports from Kenya amounted to Kshs 51 billion for the year 2018, with metals and precious stones, as well as minerals such as salt and sulfur, being some of the top exports to the country.
Statistics from 2018 and 2019 show that Nairobi's exports to Kampala are recovering from the dip between 2014 and 2017. Economists attribute the low exports in 2014 and 2015 to industrialization in Uganda, while China's increased presence in East Africa has edged out Kenya's position as a source of cheap exports.
While exports to Uganda continue to soar, other East African Countries seem to import very little from Kenya. For example, Kenya only exported goods worth Kshs 11.2 billion to Tanzania in the first five months of the year.
