Kenya's Jan-Aug horticulture exports fall 10 pct

NAIROBI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The value of horticulture exports Kenya shipped between January and August 2022 declined 9.9 percent as compared to a similar period in 2021 on low volumes, the Central Bank said on Monday.

Kenya in the eight months exported vegetables, fruits, and cut flowers worth 84.1 billion shillings (717 million U.S. dollars) from a volume of 371,129 tons.

This was down from 769 million dollars from 427,697 tons in a similar period in 2021, said the apex bank in its latest data.

The CBK attributed the decline in volumes shipped to disruptions in the global market caused by the Ukraine-Russia crisis, rising inflation, and restrictions by the local regulator to boost quality.

Kenya's Horticulture Directorate in the first quarter restricted the sale of avocados, the country's main export fruit to curb the shipment of immature produce to protect its market.

Similarly, the crisis in eastern Europe and rising inflation in major markets like the U.S. and European Union have seen shipments decline, with the latter making consumers tighten their budgets.

Kenya has, however, moved to expand the market by starting the sale of avocados to China.

The first avocado shipment from Kenya to China was done in August and the country is working to export up to 100,000 tons of the fruit to the Asian nation.

In 2021, Kenya's exports stood at 1.39 billion dollars after rising 5 percent compared to the previous year.