Unveil the Brief Information on Kenya's Top Export: The Crucial Role of Agricultural Products in the Export Economy of 2024

May 23, 2025

Unveil the Brief Information on Kenya's Top Export: The Crucial Role of Agricultural Products in the Export Economy of 2024

Industrial crops account for almost 70% of the country's agricultural exports. Following industrial crops, tea exports have significantly contributed a 23% share in the total export earnings. The crucial production capability of the farming industries has boosted the agricultural share in Kenya's GDP from a rate of 16% to 20% in the year 2024, which has resulted in an employment rate of more than 40% of the population residing in the nation.

The diversifying export portfolio of agricultural goods from the Kenyan authorities is all because of the favorable weather conditions supporting farm productivity and the government initiatives aiming to enhance agricultural productivity, including investments in infrastructure and partnerships with international organizations for sustainable practices of the pricing strategies. The growing global demand for agricultural goods due to the high-quality yield production rate of agricultural goods from the Kenyan Trade Firms has resulted in an export valuation of 8 billion US dollars in 2024.

What Are the Key Components of Agricultural Goods Exported Globally From Kenya in 2024?

The agricultural sector of Kenya, with its vast production capacity, has been significantly playing a vital role in the global market. The diversifying range of exports and the favorable climatic conditions accompanied by government initiatives and improved farming practices have been increasing the competitiveness in the global market. According to the Kenya Export Data, the top 10 leading variants of agricultural goods exported from the nation in 2024 are,

1. Tea - The total value of Tea exported from Kenya in 2024 - 1.2 billion US dollars.

2. Horticultural Products - The total value of Horticultural Products exported from Kenya in 2024 - 1 billion US dollars.

3. Coffee - The total value of Coffee exported from Kenya in 2024 - 987 million US dollars.

4. Fresh Fruits - The total value of Fresh Fruits exported from Kenya in 2024 - 755 million US dollars.

5. Tobacco - The total value of Tobacco exported from Kenya in 2024 - 645 million US dollars.

6. Livestock - The total value of Livestock exported from Kenya in 2024 - 587 million US dollars.

7. Cut Flowers - The total value of Cut Flowers exported from Kenya in 2024 - 472 million US dollars.

8. Pyrethrum - The total value of Pyrethrum exported from Kenya in 2024 - 384 million US dollars.

9. Macadamia Nuts - The total value of Macadamia Nuts exported from Kenya in 2024 - 278 million US dollars.

10. Vegetables - The total value of Vegetables exported from Kenya in 2024 - 165 million US dollars.

Major Factors Contributing to the Agricultural Product’s Share in Kenya’s Economy

1. Suitable Weather Conditions - The agricultural product has been a crucial role player in the overall economic growth of Kenya because the favorable weather conditions like rainfall and subtle temperatures in the farming regions have enabled the farmer for an effective production rate, boosting the crop yields. The stability brought up by the weather conditions has been working as a base for the proper production of globally demanded crops like tea, coffee, and horticultural products.

2. Government Initiatives - Following the suitable climatic conditions, the initiatives implemented by the government authorities over the cost-effective production capacity of the industrial farming units, including investments in infrastructure and partnerships with international organizations, have resulted in sustainable practices of the farming methods. The efforts via the subsidies implemented are aimed at creating a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector crucially countering the annual valuation.

3. Improved Agricultural Practices - Winding up, the last and the most crucial factor countering the Agricultural Goods Export of Kenya is the improved agricultural practices and farming techniques. The use of quality seeds and fertilizers in farming procedures has enhanced crop quality and yield. The technological evolutions in the methodologies used have resulted in a more competitive supply of globally demanded goods in the international market.

A Closer Look at the Crucial Export Partners of Kenya for Agricultural Goods in 2024

The agricultural export sector of Kenya has been demonstrating the resilience of the nation over the growth rate of this globally sought commodity. The suitable climatic conditions of the land area and the technological evolution regarding farming practices to enhance the quality and volume of agricultural output have been countering the annual elevations by a crucial rate. With a solidifying increase in the growing global demand for agricultural goods from the trade firms of the nation, the country has built up a stable trade relationship with most of the regions of closer geographical proximity. As per the Kenya Trade Data, the top 10 export partners that play a crucial role in the agricultural goods export of the nation in 2024 are,

1. Netherlands - According to the Netherlands Import Data, the total valuation of the agricultural goods exported from Kenya in 2024 - 1.4 billion US dollars.