Kenya’s merchandise imports grew faster than exports in the first quarter of 2026, widening the country’s trade deficit as spending on wheat, rice and other key imports rose sharply, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The country’s wheat import bill jumped to KSh22.3 billion during the quarter, up from KSh2.4 billion a year earlier. While wheat import volumes increased by 22 percent to 646,282 tonnes, the steep rise in expenditure points to significantly higher global prices rather than a substantial increase in consumption.
Rice imports also recorded strong growth, with the value climbing to KSh21.8 billion from KSh3.7 billion, while import volumes rose to 318,378 tonnes from 51,235 tonnes.
Pakistan and Thailand accounted for much of the increase in rice shipments, with imports from both countries doubling. Imports from Russia also surged, rising to KSh20.7 billion from KSh5.3 billion, driven by higher purchases of wheat and fertiliser.
Overall, Kenya’s total merchandise trade expanded by 15.2 percent to KSh1.05 trillion. Imports rose 17.1 percent to KSh744.9 billion, outpacing a 10.8 percent increase in exports, which reached KSh306.8 billion. As a result, the trade deficit widened to KSh438.1 billion from KSh359.3 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Petroleum products remained the country’s largest import, with expenditure increasing to KSh143.7 billion from KSh123.5 billion. Imports of industrial machinery climbed to KSh86.3 billion, road vehicles to KSh38.7 billion, while fertiliser imports more than doubled to KSh30 billion.
In contrast, imports of pharmaceutical products declined 23.2 percent to KSh15.6 billion, while spending on animal and vegetable oils fell 17.5 percent to KSh40.1 billion.
Asia continued to dominate as Kenya’s main source of imports, supplying 72.6 percent of the total import bill. Imports from the region rose 21.4 percent to KSh541.1 billion, led by China, where purchases increased 29.2 percent, and India, whose exports to Kenya rose 52.6 percent. Oman and Saudi Arabia also recorded notable growth.
Imports from Europe increased 19 percent, supported by higher purchases from Belgium, Italy and Germany, although imports from Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom declined.
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Trade with Africa also expanded, with imports rising 6.7 percent on stronger purchases from Uganda, Tanzania, Eswatini and Zambia, particularly maize. However, imports from South Africa fell 12.3 percent due to reduced coal shipments.
Meanwhile, imports from the Americas declined by 3.2 percent, largely because of lower natural gas imports from the United States, although wheat purchases from Argentina and Brazil increased.
On the export side, Africa remained Kenya’s largest market, with export earnings to the continent rising 25.1 percent to KSh127.9 billion. Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Egypt drove the growth through increased purchases of potatoes, tomatoes, re-exported petroleum products, electricity and photovoltaic cells.
Exports to Europe grew six percent to KSh72.1 billion, supported by stronger demand from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Shipments to Asia rose 11.8 percent, boosted by photovoltaic modules exported to Indonesia, coffee re-exports to India and jet fuel re-exports to the United Arab Emirates. Exports to the Americas also increased to KSh26.5 billion, helped by coffee and solar panel shipments to the United States.
Horticulture remained Kenya’s leading export earner, generating KSh62 billion, up 10.5 percent from a year earlier. Cut flower exports accounted for KSh33.2 billion of the total.
Tea export earnings, however, declined 1.7 percent to KSh45.3 billion, extending a gradual reduction in the commodity’s contribution to total exports. Coffee exports performed better, rising 7.5 percent to KSh16.8 billion on the back of stronger international prices.
Exports of apparel and clothing accessories increased 10.2 percent to KSh15.9 billion, while industrial machinery exports more than tripled to KSh9.8 billion, largely due to shipments of bifacial solar cells.
Conversely, exports of animal and vegetable oils dropped 23.2 percent to KSh6.4 billion. Titanium ore exports remained absent for the third consecutive quarter following the closure of Base Titanium’s mining operations in Kwale last year.
