INDIA has increased its trade share at the port of Mombasa registering an upward trend in cargo volumes on imports and exports.

KPA said cargo from India totalled 2.03 million tonnes between January and June compared to 1.7 million tonnes over the same period making it the largest exporter to Kenya.

On the other hand Kenya’s exports to India also remained the largest in the fast half of this year standing at 160,476 tonnes.

Cummulative exports from Kenya to India through the port last year was 304,000 tonnes, while imports from stood at 4.1 million tonnes. This was an increase from 240,921 tonnes (exports) and 2.7 million tonnes (imports) recorded in 2012.

This puts Asia at the top of continental trade through Mombasa port with a cargo throughput of 7.85 million tonnes. It is followed by Europe at 1.4 million tonnes in the first six months of this year.

“Over the years, India and Kenya have had cordial bilateral relations with trade between the two countries recording significant growth. India is Kenya’s sixth largest trading partner and the largest exporter to Kenya,” said KPA chairman Danson Mungatana.

He was speaking at the port headquarters when he hosted a delegation led by India’s defense Nitin Kapoor.

India’s exports to Kenya includes pharmaceuticals, steel, machinery and automobiles while Kenya largely exports primary commodities such soda ash, vegetables and tea.

Mungatana said KPA targets to handle a record 980,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) this year up from 894,000 last year.

“Indian investments in Kenya are now worth $1.5 billion (about 132 billion). India’s pharmaceutical exports have also played a key role in making essential drugs available at affordable prices in Kenya,” he said.

Kapoor had led a team of navy officers who are in the country to carry out a hydrographic survey for Kenya.

Source URL: The Star

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