Kenya and the United Kingdom (UK) have had a longstanding bilateral relationship. Trade between the two countries has been quite prevalent, considering that the United Kingdom is practically the world’s largest market, and Kenya has the greatest economy in East Africa, outside of Ethiopia. These two countries’ economies rely heavily on the things they trade, which vary from cars to coffee and vegetables.
According to the most recent report from the UK’s Department for Business and Trade factsheets, the total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Kenya was £1.4 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2023, up 11.1% or £140 million in current prices from the same period in Q3 2022.
The total value of UK exports to Kenya in the four quarters ending in Q3 2023 was £635 million, up 6.5% or £39 million at current prices from the four quarters ending in Q3 2022.
In the four quarters ending in Q3 2023, the UK exported £306 million (48.2%) of goods and £329 million (51.8%) of services to Kenya.
In comparison to the four quarters ending in Q3 2022, UK exports of goods to Kenya declined by 3.8%, or £12 million, in current prices, while UK exports of services to Kenya increased by 18.3%, or £51 million, in current prices.
Having said that, these are the five goods the UK sold to Kenya.
| Rank | Product | Trade value (Q3 2022 – Q3 2023) | % of overall trade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mechanical power generators | £43.6 million | 13.8% |
| 2. | Cars | £36.2 million | 11.5% |
| 3. | Other manufactures | £19.7 million | 6.2% |
| 4. | Medicinal & pharmaceutical products | £18.9 million | 6.0% |
| 5. | Road vehicles other than cars | £18.8 million | 6.0% |