Kenya's trade with China has continued to expand, but the gap between imports and exports remains wide, highlighting the country's persistent trade imbalance with its largest source of imports.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows imports from China rose steadily from Sh361.37 billion in 2020 to Sh671.17 billion in 2025.
Over the same period, Kenya's exports to China grew from Sh14.79 billion in 2020 to a peak of Sh28.96 billion in 2023 before declining to Sh26.32 billion in 2024 and Sh16.92 billion in 2025.
The figures indicate that while China remains a key trading partner, Kenya imports far more goods than it exports, resulting in a significant trade deficit.
Imports largely comprise machinery, electronics, construction materials, textiles and manufactured goods, while Kenya's exports are dominated by agricultural products, minerals and other raw materials.
The growing imbalance underscores the need to diversify exports, add value to local products and improve market access to China as Kenya seeks to strengthen its export earnings and narrow the trade gap.
