Kenya is the undisputed leader in trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the countries of East Africa. Of the more than fifty countries in the African continent, Kenya ranks among the most significant consumers of Ukrainian goods, among the top ten.
The key features that make Kenya an important and promising partner for Ukraine are that Ukrainian products meet Kenyan needs and standards, prices remain acceptable, and Kenya itself is increasingly taking on the role of the East African Economic Hub.
In 2021, Kenya continued to be a leading partner in Ukraine's trade and economic cooperation with East African countries. For the first time, the volumes of bilateral trade crossed the symbolic marks of 100 and 200 million USD. According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the volume of bilateral trade between Ukraine and Kenya in 2021 amounted to 214 million 780 thousand USD.
Exports from Ukraine to Kenya amounted to 196 million 736 thousand USD dollars (252.4% compared to 2020), imports - 18 million 044 thousand USD (139.4% compared to 2020). The positive balance of foreign trade in goods between Ukraine and Kenya during this period amounted to 178 million 692 thousand USD. Expansion of exports from Ukraine to Kenya took place in the following commodity positions: ferrous metals - 96 million 451 thousand USD (49% of total exports or 227.5% from 2020), cereals - 89 million 375 thousand USD (45.7% of total exports or 485.2% from 2020), fats and oils of animal or vegetable origin - 4 million 393 thousand USD (2.2% of total exports or 117.3% of 2020), vegetables - 3 million 635 thousand USD (1.8% of total exports or 173.6% from 2020), alcoholic and soft drinks and vinegar - 346.5 thousand USD (0.2% of total exports or 241.5% from 2020), electric vehicles - 243 thousand USD (0.1% of total exports or 126.2% from 2020), products of the flour and cereals industry - 216 thousand dollars USD (0.1% of total exports or 359.2% from 2020), mineral fuels; oil and products of its distillation - 200 thousand USD (0.1% of total exports or 110.6% of 2020), land transport, except rail - 197 thousand USD (0.1% of total exports or 107.6% from 2020), sugar and sugar confectionery - 191 thousand USD (0.1% of total exports or 133.4% of 2020), pharmaceuticals - 175 thousand USD (0.1% of total exports or 236.5% from 2020), railway locomotives - 75 thousand USD (538% from the same period last year). The main items of imports of goods from Kenya to Ukraine during this period were: coffee and tea - 7 million 953 thousand USD (44.1% of total imports), edible fruits and nuts - 4 million 583 thousand USD (25.4% of total imports), tobacco and industrial tobacco substitutes - 1 million 550 thousand USD (8.6% of total imports), plastics, polymeric materials - 1 million 459 thousand USD (8.1% of total imports), live trees and other plants - 1 million 275 thousand USD (7.1%). In 2021, the volume of trade in services amounted to 2 million 722 thousand USD. Exports of services from Ukraine to Kenya amounted to 846 thousand USD (106.6% compared to 2020), imports - 1 million 876 thousand USD (451% compared to 2020).
The total volume of bilateral trade in goods and services in 2021 amounted to 217 million 502 thousand USD.
The movement in investment activity between the two countries is not observed.
The Government of the Republic of Kenya pays more and more attention to the tourism industry, where Ukrainian companies can also realize their potential. In addition to trade in tourist services, trade, and telecommunication services, computer and information services also constituted a significant percentage.
Kenya, as well as other countries in the region, is interested in purchasing agricultural machinery for the whole technological chain for the needs of agriculture, mainly small and medium size farms, modern medical equipment and pharmaceutical products, products of the flour milling industry.
Demand analysis shows that in the nearest future, Kenya would continue to import grain, ferrous metals, mineral fertilizers, oils of animal and/or vegetable origin, and vegetables. Сlimate conditions in Kenya (droughts occur in almost every part of the country almost every year) and the relatively low efficiency of agricultural production (except for export tea and coffee, macadamia nuts) makes it dependent on imports of mineral fertilizers and cereals.
The arrangements reached during the visit to the Republic of Kenya of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in May 2018, which became the first visit in the history of the bilateral relations, has given a great impetus to the development of relations between Ukraine and Kenya in the trade and economic sphere.
In this regard, the Ukrainian and Kenyan Sides are working together to create treaty and legal framework for further development and enhancement of bilateral trade and economic relations, in particular, through the elaboration of the Draft Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Intergovernmental Commission and the Memorandum on Cooperation in the field of agriculture as well as other important draft agreements in this area.
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