Kenya's imports from the United States fell by 9.8% in the first half of 2025, marking the first decline since 2020. The drop, from Sh78.11 billion in 2024 to Sh70.39 billion, was mainly due to reduced demand for aircraft, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other capital goods. Key contributing factors included: A stronger Kenyan shilling (7.84% appreciation). Weaker domestic demand for capital goods. Lower orders of large aircraft, helicopters, and diagnostic reagents. Decline in LPG imports from the US, though it remained the top import item. Despite the decline, the US remained Kenya’s fourth-largest source of imports, behind China, UAE, and India. However, the US was the only top-five trading partner to record a drop in export value to Kenya during the period. Meanwhile, imports from China, UAE, India, and Japan all saw significant increases. This decline occurs amid ongoing, but incomplete, US-Kenya trade talks, initially launched under Trump’s first term and later scaled back by the Biden administration. Talks were revived under Trump’s second term with hopes of forming a stronger bilateral trade agreement. (ICE NAIROBI)

Fonte notizia: Business Daily