Kenyan exporters bet on Chinese market to counter US tariffs

Kenyan exporters are increasingly looking into China as an alternative and reliable market for their products to counter increasing global volatility caused by the recent tariff policy from the United States.

With a population of 1.4 billion and a rapidly growing economy, China presents a substantial market for Kenyan goods, especially agricultural products, Kenyan officials and company executives said.

"China represents a vast market for our agricultural products, but for years, we have only accessed a small share of it," Floice Mukabana, the chief executive officer of the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, said. "We are aiming to expand our products to all parts of China, enabling every Chinese consumer to access our goods".

Speaking at a meeting in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, ahead of the fourth edition of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, scheduled to take place in June in Changsha, China, Mukabana emphasized efforts by Kenya to further tap into the Chinese market by taking advantage of the expo.

"We are now focused on equipping local businesses with the insights, tools, and strategies they need to seize emerging opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade ties between our two nations," Mukabana said.

Josphine Ndikwe, the head of trade and exports at Jotim Coffee Limited, a Kenyan company, said China is a good alternative market for Kenya because it's huge and the tariffs are not punitive.

She said her company has been exporting to China since 2022 and their export capacity has been increasing significantly.

"We are looking forward to expanding our market reach and also venturing into exporting roasted coffee, because we believe the Chinese market is big and it's a receptive market to Kenyan coffee," Ndikwe said, adding that shipping goods to China is cheaper compared to other destinations.

Simon Gakinya, the managing director of the Mount Kenya Specialty Tea and Coffee Company Ltd, said there is a huge market for Kenyan goods in China, noting that the Chinese are friendly, welcoming and are always looking forward to partnerships.

"As an expert in coffee, I believe there is a lot of hope with the Chinese market and I'm aspiring to penetrate it. Being an expert along the value chain, if I understand the taste preference of the buyer, I will be able to secure coffee that will meet their expectation," he said.

Gakinya said China has been a great partner for Kenya, has brought a lot of knowledge to the country and openness as well as transferring technology to Kenyans.

"Kenya is what it is today because of China's input," he said.

To enhance exports to the Chinese market, Gakinya said the Kenyan government should set proper policy and bring both the Kenyan and Chinese businesspeople together so that they can understand each other's culture and how they do business, as well as know each other's preferences to create a win-win situation.

Newton Ngure, the managing director of Camilco Exports Limited, said the market for Kenyan avocadoes in China is quite huge, noting that the prospective is at least 40 metric tons per month for the company.

"We got an order for avocados and we are now trying to acquire the certificate for export to China," he said.

Ernest Muthomi, the chief executive officer of the Avocado Society of Kenya, urged avocado farmers, producers and exporters to keenly comply with the requirements to fully benefit from the huge Chinese market.

This involves making sure food handling is top-notch and that fruits are mature and spotless, in order to fetch higher prices.

Regina Ombam, principal secretary for Kenya's State Department of Trade, said the department is advocating for a joint business council between China and Kenya so that the private sector from both sides can get a platform to engage.

She said the department is also advocating for the ease of travel restrictions among the business community from Kenya to China, which she hopes will be solved through regular meetings held between business communities from both sides.

"This will ensure Kenyan traders enjoy seamless access to the Chinese market," Ombam said.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn