Kenya’s trade deficit with China widens 17pc

A cargo SGR train at the Port of Mombasa. Kenya’s trade deficit with China hit Sh475.6 billion in 2025 as imports outpace falling exports.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

Kenya’s trade deficit with China widened to Sh475.6 billion in the first nine months of last year, highlighting a deepening imbalance in bilateral trade even as Nairobi pursues policy shifts to boost exports.

New data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows the deficit expanded 16.7 percent from Sh407.7 billion recorded over a comparable period in 2024, driven by rising imports and shrinking exports.

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