Kenya’s imports from Tanzania exceeded exports by nearly a third in nine months through September 2021, fresh official statistics show, signaling thawing trade ties following regime change in Dar es Salaam.



Nairobi posted a goods trade deficit of $80.16 million, or 29.97 percent, with Dar es Salaam — the first over the review period going by publicly available data — after traders doubled orders from the south-neighbouring country.

Imports from Tanzania jumped to $396 million in January-September 2021 period from $347.6 million a year earlier, provisional data from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows.

Kenyan traders and factories largely source cereals, wood, edible vegetables, animal fodder, paper and paperboard from Tanzania.

The 101.76 percent surge in value of goods bought from Tanzania dwarfed 34.81 percent growth in exports to $267.47 million, leading to the hitherto rare deficit in merchandise trade in the period.

Kenya’s exports to its East African Community partner include pharmaceutical products, plastics, iron and steel.