NAIROBI, Kenya — The first batch of Kenyan exports to China under a newly implemented zero-tariff trade agreement arrived on Friday, marking a significant milestone in efforts to expand Kenya’s access to the Chinese market.
According to DU Xiaohui, Kenya exported 6.9 tonnes of fresh avocados in the inaugural shipment under the agreement, which officially took effect on May 1.
The avocados arrived alongside 24 tonnes of apples from South Africa as part of the first African agricultural products entering China under the new preferential tariff arrangement.
“24 tonnes of apples from South Africa and 6.9 tonnes of Kenyan fresh avocados were among the first arrivals of African agricultural products under the Zero Tariff Policy,” DU Xiaohui said.
The agreement, dubbed the “Early Harvest Agreement,” grants duty-free access to 98.2pc of Kenyan exports entering the Chinese market.
For years, Kenya has imported large volumes of Chinese goods, including machinery, electronics and manufactured products, while exporting comparatively fewer goods to China.
The trade deficit between the two countries has remained around $4 billion annually, equivalent to about Sh516 billion at current exchange rates.
Under the new framework, tariffs previously imposed on key Kenyan exports such as tea, coffee and cut flowers — ranging between 4 P.c and 15 P.c — have now been eliminated.
Kenya’s avocado sector is expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries of the deal after import duties that previously ranged between 10 P.c and 25 P.c were reduced to zero.
Kenya is currently the world’s sixth-largest avocado producer, and officials believe China’s vast consumer market presents a major growth opportunity for local farmers and exporters.
Government projections indicate avocado production could reach a record 727,000 metric tonnes during the 2026 season.
The administration of President William Ruto has described the agreement as a strategic intervention to strengthen agricultural exports and improve farmers’ earnings by enabling Kenyan produce to compete more effectively in global markets.
Beyond avocados, Kenya is also targeting increased tea and coffee exports to China’s growing middle-class population.
The government hopes to export at least 15 million kilograms of tea annually to China by 2030 while also increasing coffee shipments by 20 P.c.
