Kenya’s total trade with the United Kingdom rose by 11.9 percent to a record US$2.83 billion in the 12 months to June 30, driven by strong export growth under a post-Brexit trade agreement that grants Kenyan goods duty-free access to the British market, official data showed.
The increase, equivalent to US$300.9 million, lifted bilateral trade from US$2.52 billion recorded in the previous 12-month period to June 30, 2024, according to the UK government’s Trade and Investment Factsheet covering the period from December 17, 2025 to February 2, 2026.
The growth was largely fuelled by Kenya’s exports to the UK, which expanded by 14.4 percent, or US$221.3 million, to US$1.75 billion during the period under review. Kenya’s imports from the UK also increased, rising by eight percent, or US$79.6 million, to US$1.06 billion.
Kenyan exports to Britain consist mainly of agricultural and primary commodities, including coffee, tea, cocoa, vegetables and fruits, as well as crude animal and vegetable materials. UK exports to Kenya are dominated by machinery and vehicles, including mechanical power generators, cars, refined oil products, beverages and tobacco, and other road vehicles.
The trade expansion comes against the backdrop of the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which entered into force in March 2021 following Britain’s departure from the European Union. The agreement guarantees duty-free and quota-free access for Kenyan goods and services to the UK market, while gradually opening Kenya’s market to selected British exports.
Despite the growth in overall trade, the UK’s trade deficit with Kenya widened to US$684.1 million, up from US$542.4 million in the previous comparable period, the report said.
This included a goods trade deficit that increased to US$175.4 million from US$163.3 million, and a services trade deficit that widened to US$508.7 million from US$379.2 million.
“This means the UK reported a total trade deficit of £507 million (US$684.1 million) with Kenya, compared to a trade deficit of £402 million (US$542.4 million) in the four quarters to the end of the second quarter of 2024,” the report said.
Kenya’s imports of goods from the UK rose by 13.1 percent, or US$58.0 million, while imports of services increased by four percent, or US$21.6 million, during the period. Of Kenya’s total imports from the UK, 46.8 percent were goods valued at US$500.6 million, while 53.2 percent were services worth US$568.1 million.
During the review period, Kenya ranked as the UK’s 69th largest trading partner, accounting for about 0.1 percent of Britain’s total trade.
Following the UK’s formal exit from the European Union on January 31, 2020, Nairobi and London moved to secure a bilateral EPA to preserve preferential trade terms that had existed under EU arrangements. The agreement was ratified and came into force on March 22, 2021.
Under the pact, the UK committed to supporting Kenya in implementing the agreement, enhancing competitiveness, building trade capacity and attracting investment, as well as helping integrate Kenyan firms into global supply chains.
Kenya, for its part, agreed to gradually reduce duties on selected non-sensitive UK products, a move aimed at providing local businesses with cheaper industrial inputs to support agricultural development and manufacturing. Tariffs are being phased out on most UK exports, including machinery and pharmaceuticals.
Kenya has since deepened its trade ties with Europe, signing a separate EPA with the European Union in December 2023, which entered into force in April 2024 an agreement that has drawn criticism from some East African Community member states.
