Asia's trade with Kenya rises amid U. S., Europe decline

NAIROBI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's imports from Asian countries are about four times what the East African nation brings in from nations in Europe and America.

Official data from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicated that while East Africa's biggest economy imports from Asia worth about 660 million U.S. dollars per month, imports from Europe and America average 174 million dollars.

Kenya's main sources of imports from Asia are China, India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Japan.

On the other hand, the East African nation's sources of imports from America and Europe are the United States, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

In January, according to KNBS data received on Friday, Kenya imported goods worth 694 million dollars from the five Asian countries.

India, during the month, maintained its top spot as the leading source of Kenya's imports, bringing in goods worth 300 million dollars.

It was followed by China and the UAE, which brought in goods worth 169 million dollars and 128 million dollars respectively. Imports from Saudi Arabia and Japan totalled 97 million dollars.

In February, imports from the five Asian countries hit 711 million dollars, with India, China and the UAE leading the fray.

Trade slowed in March for the five Asian nations as Kenya imported goods worth 576 million dollars. During the month, the UAE edged out India and China from the first and second spots respectively, bringing into Kenya goods worth 232 million dollars.

China came second with 123 million dollars while India had 104 million dollars worth of imports. In total, the five Asian countries exported to Kenya goods worth 1.99 billion dollars in the first three months of this year.

On the other hand, Kenya imported from the U.S., Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and France goods worth 213 million dollars in January.

Most of the imports came from the U.S., which had 75 million dollars, followed by Britain at 60 million dollars and Germany at 32 million dollars. The Netherlands and France had 21 million dollars and 26 million dollars worth of goods respectively.

In February, the five countries had imports worth 168 million dollars, with the U. S. and Britain maintaining their top slots.

Trade slowed down in March, the month Kenya held general election, with the five countries bringing in goods worth 141 million dollars.

Kenya's imports include fuel and lubricants, industrial supplies and machinery, transport equipment and food and beverages. Fuel and lubricants take the biggest chunk of Kenya's imports trade, standing at about 32 percent every month.

Kenya, under immediate former president Mwai Kibaki, expanded its trade with Asian countries as it looked for new partners across the world. This saw its former partners Britain, the U. S. and Germany lose out.

However, while Asian countries are the biggest source of imports for Kenya, the East African country exports more goods to nations in Europe and America.

Only Pakistan and the UAE feature on the list of destination of Kenya's exports to Asia that mainly consists of horticultural products (flowers) and food beverages (coffee and tea).

Kenya exports to the five countries in America and Europe average at 119 million dollars per month. In January, Kenya's exports to the two regions totaled 120 million dollars.

In February, the exports increased to 127 million dollars and in March, they dropped to 109 million dollars. Britain in Europe is the biggest importer of goods from Kenya.

The country in the first three months of this year imported goods worth 125 million dollars, followed by the Netherlands at 111 million dollars and the U. S. 79 million dollars.

Exports to Germany and France during the period totaled 26 million dollars and 15 million dollars respectively.

On the other hand, in the first three months of the year, Kenya's exports to Pakistan stood at 98 million dollars and to the UAE 83 million dollars.

Regionally, Kenya's major destinations for exports are its neighbors in the East Africa Community, namely Uganda and Tanzania and Egypt in North Africa.

Generally, Uganda is the biggest importer of goods from Kenya. East Africa's biggest economy exported goods worth 161 million dollars to Uganda in the first quarter of this year.

Tanzania, on the other hand, imported goods worth 106 million dollars from Kenya during the period. Egypt, in the first three months of the year, emerged the third largest importer of Kenya's goods after Uganda and Britain, recording trade worth 109 million dollars.

The North African country mainly imports from Kenya tea and fresh fruits.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-05/31/c_132423182.htm