Kenya imports and exports in the Middle East trade

Kenya’s economic ties with the Middle East face a period of uncertainty as regional instability threatens the country’s export basket.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyajui has warned that the ongoing conflict, punctuated by the joint US and Israeli attack on Iran, will have a direct impact on the nation’s commercial interests.

The Middle East has historically been a major trade partner, with the volume of imports and exports showing significant growth over the last five years.

Between 2020 and 2024, Kenya’s trade with the region expanded rapidly. Imports from the Middle East rose from Sh196.48 billion in 2020 to a peak of Sh616.33 billion in 2023, before settling at Sh554.45 billion in 2024.

Export growth followed a similar upward trajectory, nearly tripling from Sh59.46 billion in 2020 to Sh164.65 billion by 2024. This steady climb highlights the region’s importance as a destination for Kenyan goods and a primary source of essential imports.

However, with the escalation of military actions in February 2026, the logistics of maritime and air trade are now at risk.

The sharp increase in trade value seen in recent years faces a potential contraction as the conflict disrupts established supply chains and market stability in the Middle East.