Kenya’s exports of fresh fruits and vegetables continue to face a host of trade barriers that undermine their competitiveness in major international markets, according to a new study. Commissioned as part of the European Union-funded Business Environment Enhancement and Export Promotion (BEEEP) Programme that is implemented by TradeMark Africa, the report identifies both tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that persistently affect the country’s avocado, mango, and vegetable exports.
The study, which covered the period from 2018 to 2022, evaluates the performance of 11 main export categories comprising avocados, mangoes, and nine types of vegetables, which are classified using the internationally recognised Harmonised System (HS) at the 6-digit level. This approach allowed researchers to trace product flows, map leading export destinations, and isolate specific market access challenges encountered by Kenyan producers and exporters.
One of the major sticking points is the inconsistent application of tariffs, particularly Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates, across different markets. While countries with preferential trade agreements, such as the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, apply lower duties, others continue to impose standard MFN rates. These disparities increase the landed cost of Kenyan produce and erode its price advantage on the global stage.
Beyond tariffs, the study highlights an array of NTBs that act as hidden obstacles to trade. These include stringent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, varying labelling standards, and bureaucratic inefficiencies that delay shipments or deny market entry altogether. Such barriers, as defined by the World Trade Organization, are non-tariff measures that distort trade either by raising prices or limiting market access.
The study proposes the establishment of a practical framework for identifying, reporting and resolving export trade barriers. It also offers policymakers, trade negotiators, and private sector stakeholders a roadmap for reform, and a clearer understanding of the steps needed to expand Kenya’s footprint in the global horticultural market. It also seeks to improve the overall business climate for exporters within the country’s horticulture sector. Horticulture is one of Kenya’s leading foreign exchange earners, having earned KSh156.7 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2023 to KSh136.6 billion ($1 billion) in 2024 in exports.
