Kenya’s performance in regional trade has seen mixed outcomes in recent months. Data from the first quarter of 2025 indicate that the East African Community region recorded a trade surplus of about US$0.8 billion, largely because exports jumped by approximately 47 % while imports rose by roughly 4.6 %. This surge reflects deeper integration and rising intra-African commerce, with Kenya participating actively.
However, elsewhere the picture is less stable. In the first quarter of 2025 Kenya’s exports in certain segments fell by over 6.9 % compared with the same period the previous year, notably due to reduced agricultural commodity volumes and weaker demand in key markets. Imports, while increasing modestly, remain heavily weighted toward Asia and include large volumes of machinery, plastics, and vehicles.
For Kenyan firms, this era of regional trade opportunity comes alongside real operational challenges: logistics bottlenecks, non-tariff barriers, inconsistent standards and competing regional suppliers. Success in this environment will depend on firms improving cost efficiency, meeting export-market criteria and leveraging regional trade agreements more aggressively.