Overview of trade between Kenya and the European Union

Summary

• Kenya has been a net importer of goods from the European Union (EU) in the past five years. Imports and exports reached $1.9 billion and $916 million, respectively, as of 2019. About one-third of EU-bound Kenyan exports are comprised of cut roses.
• Kenya’s share of the EU’s total world imports has remained stagnant in the past five years, hovering between 0.016% and 0.019%.
• Kenya may boost efforts to increase the export of flowers, macadamia, vegetables, avocados, pineapples, processed octopus, coffee, medicaments and garments—products for which the EU has increasing demand and Kenya has increasing efficiency.
• Kenyan exports benefit from preferential treatment extended by the EU (mostly via the EU-East African Community (EAC) Economic Partnership Agreement and minimally via the EU’s standard generalised scheme of preferences). However, Kenyan exporters to the EU face difficulties in complying with the EU’s labelling requirements, phytosanitary control and rules of origin.
• To boost exports, Kenya should support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in horticulture, coffee, fruit and vegetable value chains; and the development of standards appropriate to the EU market.

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