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Kenya Β· Section 3 of 9

Production, trade & prices

Maize, grown by 5.1 million households at the 2019 census, was estimated at 45.8 million 90-kg bags in 2025, and other food crops include beans, potatoes, sorghum and rice. Tea, coffee, cut flowers, fruit and vegetables are grown for export, and the sector also includes dairy, livestock and fish. Kenya exported agri-food products worth US$4.78 billion in 2025, led by coffee, tea and spices (HS 09) and live plants and cut flowers (HS 06), and imported US$3.59 billion, 64.8% of it cereals and vegetable fats and oils.

3.1

Maize and other food crops

Maize production estimates ranged between 34.2 and 47.6 million 90-kg bags in 2016–2025, with the lowest value, 34.2 million bags, in the drought year 202212. The 2025 estimate was 45.8 million bags, equal to about 4.1 million tonnes (own calculation)2. On FAOSTAT data maize was harvested on 2.41 million hectares in 2024, and yields stayed between 1.4 and 1.8 tonnes per hectare in 2010–20243. Beans production was 7.4 million bags and potato production 2.5 million tonnes in 20252.

Imports supplied 89.8% of wheat in 2025 (own calculation). Domestic production was 254.9 thousand tonnes and imports 2,235.5 thousand tonnes2. Rice paddy from public irrigation schemes rose from 194,447 tonnes in 2020/21 to 303,724 tonnes in 2024/252.

Maize production
Million 90-kg bags, 2016–2025 (KNBS)
Source: KNBS β€” Estimates of the State Department for Crops published by KNBS. 2016–2020 from Economic Survey 2021 (2020 provisional in that edition), 2021–2025 from Economic Survey 2026 (Table 7.6). 45.8 million bags equal about 4.1 million tonnes (own calculation). FAOSTAT reports 4.02 million tonnes for 20243.
Maize area harvested and yield
Area in million hectares and yield in tonnes per hectare, 2010–2024 (FAOSTAT)
Source: FAOSTAT β€” Yield stayed between 1.4 and 1.8 tonnes per hectare in 2010–2024.
Wheat production and imports
Thousand tonnes, 2021–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.9. Imports covered 89.8% of wheat supply in 2025 (own calculation).
Beans, potatoes and rice
Production, thousand tonnes, 2010–2024 (FAOSTAT)
Source: FAOSTAT β€” Rice paddy from public irrigation schemes reached 303,724 tonnes in 2024/25 on National Irrigation Authority data2.
3.2

Tea, coffee, horticulture and sugar

Made tea production reached 598.5 thousand tonnes in 2024 and fell by 8.0% to 550.4 thousand tonnes in 2025, with smallholders producing 271.8 thousand tonnes and estates 278.6 thousand tonnes2. Marketed tea was worth KSh 153.0 billion in 20252. Coffee production was 51.4 thousand tonnes in 2024/25, of which cooperatives produced 36.8 thousand tonnes (71.6%, own calculation), and the average auction price rose from KSh 65,881 to KSh 93,615 per 100 kg between 2024 and 20252. The Coffee Act 2026, in force since 27 March 2026, assigns coffee regulation to the Coffee Board of Kenya, and the Tea Act assigns tea regulation to the Tea Board of Kenya45.

Fresh horticultural exports reached 457.9 thousand tonnes worth KSh 143.8 billion in 20252. Fruit export volumes rose from 48.7 thousand tonnes in 2016 to 250.3 thousand tonnes in 2025, while cut flower earnings were KSh 81.3 billion in 2025, below the KSh 110.8 billion of 202112. Sugar production fell to 613.2 thousand tonnes in 2025 and imports rose to 477.7 thousand tonnes2.

Tea production
Made tea, thousand tonnes, 2016–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Tea Board of Kenya data published by KNBS. In 2025 smallholders produced 271.8 thousand tonnes and estates 278.6 thousand tonnes, and green leaf production was 2,476.7 thousand tonnes. Below-average rainfall reduced output in 2025 (Economic Survey 2026, paragraph 7.15).
Coffee production by type of grower
Thousand tonnes, coffee years October–September, 2020/21–2024/25
Source: KNBS β€” Agriculture and Food Authority data in Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.10. The area under coffee was 113.9 thousand hectares in 2024/25, of which 85.3 thousand under cooperatives.
Fresh horticultural exports by volume
Thousand tonnes, 2016–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Agriculture and Food Authority data in the Economic Surveys 2021 (2016–2020) and 2026 (2021–2025). Excludes processed horticulture and nuts. Values for 2016–2020 are as published in the 2021 edition and were not revised in the 2026 edition, which starts in 2021.
Fresh horticultural exports by value
KSh billion, 2016–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Same basis as the volume chart. Earnings from fresh horticultural exports were KSh 143.8 billion in 2025.
Recorded marketed agricultural production
Value at current prices, KSh billion, 2021–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.2. 'Other crops' and 'Other livestock products' are own calculations (category totals minus the items shown). Horticulture covers fresh exports only. The grand total was KSh 706.0 billion in 2025.
Sugar production and imports
Thousand tonnes, 2021–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Kenya Sugar Board data in Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.13. Cane production was 7,051.9 thousand tonnes in 2025 (Table 7.12).
Selected crops, 2021–2025
CropUnit20212022202320242025
Maizemillion 90-kg bags36.734.247.644.845.8
Beansmillion 90-kg bags7.48.39.68.47.4
Sorghummillion 90-kg bags1.51.32.22.72.6
Potatoesmillion tonnes2.11.82.32.22.5
Wheatthousand tonnes349.1368.7309.5311.8254.9
Made teathousand tonnes537.8535.0570.3598.5550.4
Coffee (crop year ending in the year)thousand tonnes34.551.948.749.551.4
Sugarcanethousand tonnes7,659.18,799.85,550.79,365.37,051.9
Avocadothousand tonnes–––639.2528.3
Source: KNBS β€” Economic Survey 2026, Tables 7.6, 7.9, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12 and 7.20. 2025 values are provisional. Coffee years run from October to September (2024/25 shown under 2025).
Fresh horticultural exports, 2021–2025
Product20212022202320242025
Cut flowers, volume ('000 t)210.1202.9116.3102.5130.6
Cut flowers, value (KSh bn)110.8104.373.572.181.3
Fruits, volume ('000 t)117.3113.3188.1225.4250.3
Fruits, value (KSh bn)18.419.732.441.041.2
Vegetables, volume ('000 t)78.175.4164.174.377.0
Vegetables, value (KSh bn)28.523.250.923.421.3
Total, volume ('000 t)405.5391.5468.4402.2457.9
Total, value (KSh bn)157.7147.1156.7136.6143.8
Source: KNBS β€” Agriculture and Food Authority data, Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.14. Excludes processed horticulture and nuts.
3.3

Livestock, dairy and fish

Households kept 15.8 million cattle, 28.0 million goats, 19.3 million sheep and 4.6 million camels at the 2019 census (own sums of the census categories)6. FAOSTAT reports 22.4 million cattle and 38.4 million goats in 20243. Milk production was 5,521.1 million litres in 2025, of which 1,013.7 million litres were formally marketed and 704.4 million litres processed2. Fish production was 135.4 thousand tonnes from capture and 34.7 thousand tonnes from aquaculture in 20247.

Livestock numbers
Million head, 2010–2024 (FAOSTAT)
Source: FAOSTAT Β· KNBS β€” The step in 2019 coincides with the 2019 census, which counted 15.8 million cattle (exotic and indigenous), 19.3 million sheep, 28.0 million goats and 4.6 million camels kept by households6. The fall in 2021–2022 coincides with the 2020–2022 drought.
Milk production and marketed milk
Million litres, 2021–2025
Source: KNBS β€” State Department for Livestock and Kenya Dairy Board data, Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.17. Formally marketed milk was 18.4% of production in 2025.
Fish production
Capture and aquaculture, thousand tonnes live weight, 2010–2024
Source: FAO FishStat β€” Own sums of species in FAO FishStat. Capture includes Lake Victoria and marine fisheries.
1st
Camel milk
1.10 Mt world production rank, 2024 (1st in 2023)8
3rd
Tea leaves
2.69 Mt world production rank, 2024, after China and India8
6th
Avocados
585,000 t world production rank, 2024 (6th in 2023)8
7th
Goats
38.4 million world rank by number, 20248
Livestock numbers, 2019 census and FAOSTAT 2024
Species2019 census, kept by householdsFAOSTAT 2024
Cattle15,774,81822,435,638
of which exotic dairy cattle2,209,980–
Goats28,011,80038,426,161
Sheep19,307,44526,214,927
Camels4,640,0854,779,483
Pigs442,761–
Chickens (indigenous and exotic)38,816,23871,223,000
Source: KNBS Β· FAOSTAT β€” Census cattle are the sum of exotic dairy, exotic beef and indigenous cattle, and census chickens the sum of indigenous chicken, layers and broilers (own calculations). The census counted only animals kept by households, so the two columns are not directly comparable.
Kenya in world agricultural production, 2024
ProductProductionWorld rankShare of world (%)
Camel milk1,098,082 t1 of 2926.2
Tea leaves2,687,200 t3 of 468.2
Sisal20,940 t3 of 24–
Camels4.78 million head4 of 46–
Avocados585,000 t6 of 735.2
Goats38.4 million head7 of 181–
Dry beans903,851 t8 of 1063.0
Cattle22.4 million head15 of 1901.4
Maize4,023,000 t30 of 1620.3
Source: FAOSTAT Β· KNBS β€” Own ranking from the FAOSTAT bulk file (release of December 2025), excluding regional aggregates. The rank is out of the countries reporting production above zero. Tea leaves are green leaf, and the FAOSTAT value equals the 2,687.2 thousand tonnes of green leaf shown for 2024 in Table 7.11 of the Economic Survey 20262.
3.4

Trade

The map shows where Kenya's agri-food products go and where they come from. In 2025 Kenya reported US$4,782.8 million of agri-food exports and US$3,588.4 million of imports9. Pakistan was the largest buyer, at US$575.6 million, almost all of it in HS chapter 09 (coffee, tea and spices), followed by the Netherlands (US$504.3 million, 70% of it live plants and cut flowers), the United Kingdom (US$394.5 million) and Uganda (US$357.1 million)9. EU-27 members took 25.5% of exports and members of the East African Community 15.8% (own calculation)9.

On the import side Malaysia supplied US$956.0 million, almost all of it fats and oils (HS chapter 15), and India, Russia, Argentina and Australia supplied most of the imported cereals9. Cereal imports were US$1.20 billion in 2025 and fats and oils US$1.12 billion9. Agri-food exports grew from US$3.15 billion in 2015 to US$4.78 billion in 2025, and imports from US$1.85 billion to US$3.59 billion10. Kenya ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement in 2018, and its Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU has been in force since 1 July 20241112.

Agri-food trade partners, 2025
Exports and imports of HS chapters 01–24 by partner country, US$ million (UN Comtrade, as reported by Kenya)
Source: UN Comtrade β€” HS chapters 01–24 (live animals to tobacco). Partner values are as reported by Kenya for 2025, the latest full year reported. Small territories without a shape on the 1:110m world map appear only in the ranked list.
Where agri-food exports go
Share of agri-food exports (HS 01–24), 2025
EU-27 Β· 25.5 %East African Community Β· 15.8 %Rest of the world Β· 58.7 %
Source: UN Comtrade β€” Own calculation from UN Comtrade partner data. EAC members are Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Pakistan alone took 12.0% and the United Kingdom 8.2%.
Agri-food exports and imports
HS chapters 01–24, US$ million, 2015–2025
Source: UN Comtrade β€” UN Comtrade, as reported by Kenya, own sums of chapters 01–24 (world partner). The trade surplus was US$1,194.4 million in 2025 (own calculation).
Main agri-food export and import groups
US$ million, 2015–2025
Source: UN Comtrade β€” UN Comtrade, as reported by Kenya. Cereal imports were US$1,111.4 million in 2017.
Agri-food exports by product group
Largest HS chapters, US$ million, 2025
Source: UN Comtrade β€” UN Comtrade, as reported by Kenya. Chapter totals are own sums of partner values. Pakistan bought US$567.9 million of chapter 09 products and the Netherlands US$352.9 million of chapter 06 products.
Agri-food imports by product group
Largest HS chapters, US$ million, 2025
Source: UN Comtrade β€” UN Comtrade, as reported by Kenya. Malaysia supplied US$951.1 million of chapter 15 imports, and Russia, India, Argentina, Australia and Pakistan US$938.2 million of cereal imports (own sum).
Largest agri-food trade partners, 2025
RankExport partnerUS$ mShare (%)Import partnerUS$ mShare (%)
1Pakistan575.612.0Malaysia956.026.6
2Netherlands504.310.5India347.09.7
3United Kingdom394.58.2Russia232.86.5
4Uganda357.17.5Uganda200.65.6
5United Arab Emirates288.46.0Argentina199.45.6
6Egypt192.94.0Tanzania167.74.7
7Germany156.03.3Australia167.04.7
8United States140.82.9Pakistan165.54.6
9France123.12.6South Africa111.83.1
10Saudi Arabia116.92.4Egypt104.32.9
Total, HS 01–244,782.8100.0Total, HS 01–243,588.4100.0
Source: UN Comtrade β€” UN Comtrade, as reported by Kenya. Shares are own calculations.
3.5

Prices

The average price paid to farmers for maize rose from KSh 3,003 per 100 kg in 2021 to KSh 7,005 in 20252. Retail maize prices peaked at KSh 79.4 per kg in March 2023, after the drought, and were KSh 61.8 in September 20252. Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation was 7.2% in 2025 and 9.5% in September 2026, when overall inflation was 6.8%1314.

Prices paid to farmers for maize and wheat
Average gross price, KSh per 100 kg, 2021–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.4, calendar-year averages.
Retail price of maize grain
Average retail market price, KSh per kg, March and September 2021–2025
Source: KNBS β€” Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.7. Prices peaked after the 2022 drought. In September 2026 a 2 kg packet of sifted maize flour cost KSh 152.00 on average14.
Consumer price inflation
Annual average change of the CPI, %, 2010–2025
Source: World Bank WDI Β· KNBS β€” KNBS reports annual average inflation of 4.51% in 2024 and 4.01% in 2025, with food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation of 5.6% and 7.2%13. In September 2026 inflation was 6.8% and food inflation 9.5%14.
Average gross prices paid to farmers, 2021–2025
ProductUnit20212022202320242025
MaizeKSh per 100 kg3,002.75,301.06,116.76,281.27,005.1
WheatKSh per 100 kg4,297.95,971.35,043.74,509.75,090.3
Tea (auction)KSh per 100 kg23,444.429,384.631,212.129,736.427,806.0
Coffee (auction)KSh per 100 kg65,864.948,871.461,416.265,881.093,614.6
SugarcaneKSh per tonne3,910.04,514.05,242.05,291.05,437.0
MilkKSh per 100 litres4,200.04,720.45,083.04,910.14,958.0
Beef, third gradeKSh per 100 kg44,839.646,522.156,400.061,631.667,097.0
Source: KNBS β€” Economic Survey 2026, Table 7.4. Calendar-year averages. Tea and coffee are auction prices for black tea and coffee beans.

Sources cited on this page

  1. Economic Survey 2021 (PDF) β€” Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)verified
  2. Economic Survey 2026, Chapter 7 Agriculture Sector (Tables 7.1-7.23, PDF pages 202-224) β€” Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)verified
  3. FAOSTAT Production: Crops and livestock products, bulk download for Africa (CSV, release of 23 December 2025) β€” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsverified
  4. Coffee Act, No. 8 of 2026 (Kenya Law web page) β€” National Council for Law Reporting (Kenya Law)verified
  5. Tea Act, Cap. 343 (Act No. 23 of 2020) (Kenya Law web page) β€” National Council for Law Reporting (Kenya Law)verified
  6. 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics (PDF) β€” Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)verified
  7. Global fisheries and aquaculture production, FishStat bulk dataset GlobalProduction_2026.1.0 (CSV, March 2026) β€” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsverified
  8. FAOSTAT Production: Crops and livestock products, bulk download all countries (CSV, release of 23 December 2025) β€” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsverified
  9. UN Comtrade – Kenya, agri-food trade (HS chapters 01–24) by partner, 2025 (public preview API, JSON) β€” United Nations Statistics Divisionverified
  10. UN Comtrade – Kenya, agri-food trade by HS chapter (01–24), world partner, 2015–2025 (public preview API, JSON) β€” United Nations Statistics Divisionverified
  11. Status list of countries which have signed, ratified or acceded to the Agreement establishing the AfCFTA, as at 22/05/2026 (PDF) β€” African Union Commissionverified
  12. EU trade relations with the East African Community (web page) β€” European Commission, Directorate-General for Tradeverified
  13. Economic Survey 2026 (PDF) β€” Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)verified
  14. The Kenya Consumer Price Index and Inflation Report, September 2026 (PDF) β€” Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)verified
  15. World Development Indicators – Inflation, consumer prices (annual %), FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG (API, JSON) β€” World Bankverified
β“˜
AI-assisted content, human-reviewed: This page was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by a human editor. (last review: October 2026) Despite review, errors or outdated values may remain; please verify critical figures against the linked primary sources before relying on them. Nothing here is investment, legal or financial advice.

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