Due to growing demand from export markets, Kenya exported the most horticultural produce in July in more than two years. According to the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) most recent figures, exports reached 65,172 tonnes in July, up 19.3% from 54,604 tonnes in June.
Since February 2021, when exporters sold 71,685 tonnes of fresh produce, cut flowers, and fruits, this is the most of those items that have been exported. 28,259 tonnes of fresh vegetables are exported, followed by 27,339 tonnes of fresh fruits and 9,574 tonnes of cut flowers.
Avocados are the main fruit exported from the nation, followed by lemons, pineapples, mangoes, raspberries, and passion fruits. Chilies, basil, peppermint, fine beans, mixed vegetables, snap peas, and herbs are some of the principal vegetables exported. Over 65 percent of Kenya’s cut flower exports go to the Netherlands, with the remainder going to wholesalers and retail establishments including supermarkets and grocers.
Earnings from the produce increased by 3.8 percent to Sh12.5 billion thanks to higher export volumes and a lower shilling. This is the biggest amount since March 2021, when exporters made Sh13.5 billion. One of Kenya’s top export industries, horticulture generated Sh152.3 billion in revenue in 2022. Coffee and tea are two other top export commodities.
Exports are the nation’s second-largest source of foreign exchange after remittances from the diaspora, which is critical at a time when the nation is low on foreign currency, particularly US dollars. Fresh produce demand is expected to increase, especially in Europe, which would help the horticultural sector’s earnings recover after a decline last year.
In 2021, horticulture exports were worth Sh157.7 billion; in 2022, they were worth Sh146.1 billion, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ (KNBS) Economic Survey 2023.
“This is explained by low demand for cut flowers and vegetables in the international market during the year under review,” claimed KNBS.
