Kenya farm exports to gain duty free access to Chinese market

President William Ruto and Chinese President Xi Jinping during bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on September 3, 2024. [File, Standard]

Kenya’s agricultural exports will start entering the Chinese market duty-free starting May 1, a move that is expected to significantly boost export opportunities for Kenyan farmers and agribusinesses.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the milestone during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan, saying the move marks the implementation stage of trade agreements secured following President William Ruto’s State visit to China.

CS Kagwe said the removal of tariffs is part of broader commitments reached between Kenya and China to deepen trade and expand market access for Kenyan products.

“This is the implementation stage of agreements that were carried forward by His Excellency President William Ruto during his visit to China. It opens a major opportunity for Kenyan farmers and exporters to access one of the world’s largest markets,” the CS said.

Under the new arrangement, Kenyan agricultural products will now enter China at zero tariff, removing duties that previously reduced the competitiveness of Kenyan exports in the Chinese market.

Among the products expected to benefit from the new duty-free access are tea, coffee, fresh and frozen avocados, macadamia nuts, flowers, fresh horticultural produce, vegetables and herbs, as well as other agricultural commodities produced across the country.

Previously, several Kenyan agricultural exports entering China attracted import duties depending on the product category. Tea and coffee products attracted tariffs ranging between about six and 15 percent, while nuts such as macadamia faced tariffs of between 10 to 15 per cent.

Fresh horticultural produce and vegetables often attracted tariffs ranging between 10 and 25 per cent, while cut flowers attracted tariffs of about four percent.

The elimination of these tariffs is expected to significantly improve the competitiveness of Kenyan agricultural products in the Chinese market of more than 1.4 billion consumers.

Guo Haiyan noted that agricultural trade between the two countries has been steadily growing, highlighting that Kenya is already an important agricultural exporter to China.

She revealed that in 2025, Kenya’s exports of coffee and tea to China reached Sh3.2 billion ($24.46 million), accounting for 10.8 per cent of Kenya’s agricultural exports to China, representing a year-on-year growth of 8.8 per cent.

Exports of fresh and frozen avocados as well as macadamia nuts reached $19.9 million, also accounting for 8.8 per cent of Kenya’s agricultural exports to China.

“China is committed to expanding agricultural cooperation with Kenya under the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework, including supporting greater market access for Kenyan products, strengthening agricultural value chains and enhancing technical cooperation and capacity building,” the Ambassador said.

CS Kagwe is now urging Kenyan exporters and investors to fully take advantage of the new market access by increasing production and focusing more on value-added agricultural exports. He called on Kenyan business community to partner with Chinese companies to establish agro-processing industries in Kenya, particularly for products destined for export to China.

“Now that we have duty-free access to the Chinese market, we must maximise it by exporting more value-added agricultural products,” he said.

According to CS Kagwe, such partnerships will help Kenya move from exporting raw agricultural commodities to exporting processed products, strengthening agricultural value chains while creating jobs and increasing incomes for farmers.

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining strict quality standards, urging the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service to remain firm on quality assurance to ensure Kenyan exports meet Chinese phytosanitary requirements.

“Quality will be critical as we expand into this market. Our regulatory agencies must ensure Kenyan exports meet the highest international standards,” Kagwe said.