Kenya’s trade deficit widened by Sh214.25 billion over the half-year period as import spending sharply outstripped export earnings.

Figures released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) detail the trajectory of the country’s international trade between 2022 and 2026.

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In 2022, export earnings stood at Sh434.2 billion against an import bill of Sh1,248.04 billion. The following year, exports grew to Sh479.2 billion while imports recorded a slight dip to Sh1,235.01 billion.

Trade activity expanded further in 2024, with exports rising to Sh571.59 billion. However, imports also experienced a notable surge during the same period, reaching Sh1,336.61 billion.

In 2025, export values registered a drop to Sh554.08 billion, while import spending saw a minor increase to Sh1,337.99 billion.

By 2026, both trade metrics hit peak levels across the five-year timeframe. Exports rebounded significantly to reach Sh632.28 billion.

Despite this growth in outgoing goods, import expenditures escalated drastically, rising to Sh1,630.44 billion and driving the continued expansion of the national trade imbalance.