Kenyan manufacturers were among the biggest importers in the country in 2023 with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) revealing that non-food industrial supplies were the most imported items last year.
According to data from the KNBS, imports for industrial supplies (non-food) amounted to Ksh895 billion. This includes chemicals which are used in making various products in the country.
Data analysis by Kenyans.co.ke, revealed that monthly imports for the industrial supplies averaged slightly above Ksh70 billion per month.
The second most sought-after products by Kenyans were fuel products and lubricants. These imports included petrol, diesel and kerosene. The total value of the fuel products was put at Ksh658 billion.
Notably, this also included the government-to-government fuel which was brought into the country following a deal by President William Ruto and three companies in the Middle East.
On the other hand, food and beverages also made it to the top three with the 2023 import value estimated at Ksh342 billion.
Machinery & other capital equipment, used for various industrial work was the fourth most imported item in 2023 with the import value estimated at Ksh302 billion.
Meanwhile, imports of transport equipment such as cars and vehicles were valued at Ksh172 billion. This includes saloon cars, buses, saloon cars and motorcycles.
Kenya's Preferred Countries for Imported Goods
According to the data, China remains a key trade partner for Kenya.
"China was the leading importing partner with a value of Ksh44.7 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates with a value of Ksh31 billion in December 2023," read the report in part.
Other leading destinations were; Saudi Arabia, India and Japan.
Conversely, in terms of exports, Pakistan and Uganda were the leading markets for Kenyan products which include tea and other farm products.
In December 2023, Uganda and Pakistan emerged as Kenya's major trading partners for exports, with values of Ksh8.8 billion and Ksh7.3 billion respectively.
"Food and beverages constituted 43.4 per cent while Industrial Supplies (non-food) constituted 23.3 per cent of the total exports, during the same period," read the report in part.
